CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study

This study will delve into an in-depth performance of vision Africa radio in the political

mobilization of rural dwellers in umuahia north local government area of abia state. The

determination of the role of this radio in mobilizing rural dwellers for political issues will

need an in-depth treatment or be treated with extreme care. However the exhaustive

treatment should involve preparation of appropriate political programmes and strategy

towards meeting the needs of these rural dwellers.

The role of radio medium in political mobilization in the annulled of 1973

presidential election is one of the greatest changes facing the electorates in especially in

rural areas because Nigeria electorates especially in recent years have always been

intensely individualistic hence political parties will always confront profound cultural

differences. Given the cultural structure of the Nigeria electorates the importance of

radio programmes cannot be over emphasized. This also is a typical case of election

malpractice that has been the lot of Nigeria election.

Radio on its part is an electronic medium with sounds and audio. It is not effective

spontaneous message carrier of those times. Its consistency brings to the masses

especially the rural dwellers account of events making it the number one when compared

to any other medium. Admittedly radio is relatively cheap and can operate without

electricity; it also satisfies curiosity by allowing one hear for oneself is not just an

2

overstatement. Again its ability to disseminate information in our various dialects as it

also serves as a tonic to language barrier through the stations.

Radio as an integral part of the fourth estate of the realm through various stations

such as vision Africa is expected as usual to play its traditional role as a watch dog of the

society and as agent of change. In rural areas advertisement role on political trend

inspires responsiveness to the medium and has become a major feature of campaigns for

public office seeker at national state and local government levels. Most rural dwellers in

umuahia north local government are known to be financially poor because their low

education status and they cannot afford radio set. This has often been a problem to

efficient and effective use of radio in achieving political mobilization in rural areas.

All things being equal the term vision Africa radio umuahia and political

mobilization refers to all kinds of political services rendered to the populace to bring

about information education entertainment and influence to the rural dwellers. Apart

from these general role it enhances and encourages through its various programmes the

acquisition and pursuit of knowledge thereby promoting national consciousness and acts

as a powerful means of social mobilization.

1. Uses of Radio:

Radio has many uses other than broadcasting programmes at the home for example

schools business hospitals farms market etc and many other organizations use closed

circuit radio. Since the late 1970s such equipment as audio cassette recorder audio disc

players and personal recorders have changed the way people use radio in their homes to

3

listen to various programmes on the station. Considering the fact that radio (vision

Africa) is not the only means of communication let us have an overview of the various

media of communication.

11. Assessment of the Various Media:

Radio television magazines pamphlets posters brochures and visual-audio aids

are important media for conveying information simultaneously to a large population.

They easily open the eyes of the people to the fact of mobilization. Radio especially can

reach people and be effectively used in many countries as instrument of mobilization.

An overview of the assessment reveals to us that upon the benefits according to each

of these media there are loopholes which stop them from doing perfectly the work they

are meant for considering these loopholes; one may be tempted to ask what the feature of

radio is?

History of Radio

Accordingly nwogbunyan (2006:125) noted that in 1860 Maxwell predicted the

existence of radio walls in 1895; Marconi transmitted radio signals for a short distance

and at the turn of the century conducted successful trans-Atlantic tests.

The new communication medium was first known as wireless. The first station was

W.B2 spring field Massa chusset on September 15 1921(nwogbunyan 2006:126).

Broadcasting started in Nigeria with what was referred to as the radio diffusion systems

(RDS) or re-diffusion system introduced by the British colonial government in 1932. In

this system Nigeria subscribes received the broadcasts (news and other programmes)

4

through cable connected to their gramophones. The major reason for establishing RDA

was strengthening by economic political and culturalites with the colonies and all

important area of the common wealth.

1958 marked the turning point in the annals of broadcasting in Nigeria with the

introduction of an ordinance establishing the Nigeria broadcasting service (N.B.S) the

electronic media (wireless and radio transmission) were constituted under the colonial

government headed by the governor general sir James Wilson Robertson and assented

to in the name of her majesty queen Elizabeth 11. N.B.S was undertaken by the

government of the federation and had four major stations at Lagos (national station

Enugu. Eastern station). Ibadan (western station and Kaduna (northern station).

However in June 01 1978 the federal government of Nigeria announced the

change of the name from Nigeria broadcasting service (N.B.S) to federal radio

corporation (FRC) with other stations across the state of the federation.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Radio is one of the most persuasive and effective medium of mass communication.

The problems to investigate is the extent to which radio have influenced umuahia north

local government areas dwellers. It is the duty of radio to properly educate inform

entertain or enlighten as well as mobilize the entire local government area. Though the

importance of radio cannot be over emphasized in the third world country like Nigeria.

But it is an important key fact to success as well as avenue for political mobilization. The

problems of this research or study are as follows:

5

What effects have vision Africa radio put to achieve the aim of improving the political

mobilization of rural dwellers in umuahia north local government?

1. Are the rural dwellers of umuahia north local government listening to political

programmes?

2. Are the rural dwellers participating in political mobilization programmes?

3. Is the government taking political mobilization serious?

These and other questions will be addressed later in the course of study.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The following are the aims of this study.

1. To find out how radio programmes has imparted on the political decision of

umuahia north local government area.

2. To determine whether radio medium has any problem in mobilizing the rural

dwellers in umuahia north.

3. To know the extent to which radio programmes have gone in mobilizing and

persuading voters among the people of umuahia community during election since

radio is mostly employed by candidates as a means of reaching the people.

4. To find out whether radio programmes in various forms help in political

mobilization of umuahia north.

6

1.4 Research Questions

The following are some of the questions used by the researcher to get the necessary

information from the respondents that will guide the study.

1. To what extent have radio political programmes affect people’s voting pattern?

2. What limitation does radio medium affect the people of umuahia north local

government area in achieving sustainable political mobilization?

3. To what extent does radio serve as the best medium of communication for rural

dwellers?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H1. Exposure to radio political programmes do affect people’s voting pattern.

H0. Exposure of radio political programmes do not affect people’s voting pattern.

H2. The medium affect the people of umuahia north local government area in achieving

sustainable political mobilization.

H0. The medium do not affect the people of umuahia north local government area in

achieving sustainable political mobilization.

H3. Radio is the best medium of communication for rural political mobilization in

umuahia L.G.A.

7

H0. Radio is not the best medium of communication for rural political mobilization in

umuahia L.G.A.

1.6. Scope of Study

The research is limited umuahia north local government area. The choice of the place

has to do with the fact that its population is predominately rural based. Vision Africa

radio operates in this area. Therefore a conclusion made from the findings on the role of

vision Africa radio programmes on political mobilization: a study of umuahia north local

government area will be applied to the rural communities since rural communities passes

similar characteristics that are easily identifiable in all rural areas of the country.

1.7 Significance of the Study

Theoretically the study will help to create awareness on the need for proper use of

radio medium in political mobilization of rural dwellers. It will also increase the level of

perception attitudes beliefs and knowledge of the public especially in umuahia local

government area on the services and programmes of radio medium in improving the level

of political mobilization. It will help to create a more co-coordinated socio-political and

socio-economic awareness on some burning issues at the grassroots. It is also hoped that

the research will help in promoting political participation and nature consciousness. It

will ensure continued education for the rural population.

8

The study will help to answer such questions as to whether radio medium will be

essential and reliable in providing the best methodologies that will assist them in getting

information about their respective research.

Lastly the study will serve as a guide to students scholars institutions or the public

that are carrying out research on similar or related issues and also the work will provide

a strong work for these researchers.

1.8. Operational Definitions

Mobilization: This means to work together in order to achieve a particular aim.

Political: art of governing for later and more rewarding life.

Rural dwellers: any underdeveloped people living in a given geographical area in this

project umuahia north local government area.

Radio medium: the medium for transmitting mobilizing information/value for the rural

dwellers/

Sustainable: continuing maintaining a process for long.

9