By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo has tasked journalists to ensure their reports are development oriented and channeled towards attainment of Peace, Good Governance, Unity and Development of the country.
Isiguzo made the call at a symposium on the seven years of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in Kogi State organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council on Thursday in Lokoja.
The Symposium themed: “A Peep into Yahaya Bello’s Seven Years as Governor of Kogi State and the Implications for Future Administrations”, was designed to take a look at some of the governor’s achievements.
The NUJ National President said every news content should be aimed at peace building and general good of the nation rather than being destructive.
He said, “As we pick up pens and our phones and write, what should continue to be uppermost in our minds should include enthronement of good governance, unity and peace in our country and therefore want to advise.
“If what you are writing is not going to pull people out of squalor, what you are writing is not going to pull people out of poverty; if it will not pull people out of ignorance, please drop the pen, you are not writing for Nigeria”, he cautioned.
Isiguzo reminded Nigerians that as the 2023 General Elections approaches, “the choice we make on that day is going to substantially affect our future.”
He described journalists as strategic stakeholders in the electoral process and urged that they be allowed to discharge their duties for the enthronement of peace and development in the country.
He said, “As we step out on the 25th February, and 11th of March to report the election, please bear in mind that there is only one country we call our own and that is Nigeria.”
He noted that Governor Yahaya Bello had done well and described him as a shining star.
“He stands out as a unique personality that has changed the dynamics of politics in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the NUJ President said.
In his welcome address, Comrade Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh, chairman of Kogi State Council of the NUJ said the professional body as watchdogs, had the constitutional role to commend government and individuals who do well and expose the foibles of the society.
“In performing our duties as enshrined in the constitution, we, as Media men and women are constitutionally enabled to hold governments accountable to the people for whose uplift any government exists in the first place”, he said.
The NUJ Chairman called on politicians to avoid frivolous petitions, campaign of calumny and other tactics to discredit Governor Bello’s government saying that their antagonisms and frivolities were definitely not in the interest of the people.
“It is therefore our verdict at the NUJ that given the resources at the disposal of the state, Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello has done well.
“He should be supported to finish well and enthrone a successor that can continue in the same or even a better trajectory”, he added. (Ends)