***Tasks Tinubu On Quickly Emancipation Of Nigerians From Hunger, Hardship
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Journalists in the country have been urged to relate the hunger, anguish and the prevailing socio-economic challenges ravaging the nation to government at all levels for quick redress.
Rev. Mathew Odoh of
The United Evangelical Church (UEC). Lokongoma, Lokoja, gave the charge at a special Sunday Service as part of activities marking the 2024 Press Week of the Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Rev. Odoh tasked Journalists as middlemen between the government and the people in the country, to be diligent and courageous in the discharge of their duties by relating well the activities of government to the people.
He also urged them as worthy middlemen to feed government with the cries and anguish of the people saying that the prevailing difficulties were beyond human comprehension urging journalists to champion the cause of the voiceless.
“Journalists are like Middle men. You are like the Biblical Moses. You hear from the people and relate to government about our cries. You are standing between the Government and people.
“Tell us rightly what the Government is saying. Also hear from us and tell them what we are saying and what our problems are.
“Presently as citizens, we are hungry. We are finding it extremely difficult to meet the basic necessities of life. We need light. The cost of electricity tariff is too high. We need jobs for our children.
“Let me Government address issues around the economy and let us have money’s in our pockets. Nigerians are suffering”, the Clergy man said.
Rev. Odoh prayed God to strengthen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and grant him the critical wisdom, grace and force to steer the statecraft aright and emancipate Nigerians from the prevailing but unwarranted hardship.
He said, “There is so much of maladministration. We are not smiling. Let the Government at all levels do what is needful. We beg you as Journalists to tell the Government that Nigerians are not smiling, they need a breath of fresh air”.
The Clergyman prayed God to preserve all working Journalists in the country as he described the Journalism profession as one riddled with great risks and urged them to uphold professionalism and ensure balance in their reportage.
He commended journalists in the state for their stance on professionalism and unbiased reportage, pointing out that the only way democracy and a better society can thrive was for Journalists to operate unhindered in an enabling environment.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Olusegun Ayindero-Oyenibi, Secretary, Kogi State Council of the NUJ, said the church service was part of the NUJ 2024 Press Week which commenced on Friday with a Juma’at Prayers at Ministry of Education Mosque in Lokoja.
He said that the Christian and Muslim prayers were aimed at giving thanks to God for preserving the Journalists so far and offering supplications for their protection as well as seek God’s divine presence and guidance in the new session. (Ends)