By Kingsley Madaki
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN have called for the promotion of media literacy among Nigerians, especially the younger population in order to end the tide of insecurity and political oppressing across the country.
Making the call during a church service to mark the World Communications Day in Abuja, Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria CSN, made this known at the 2022 World Communications Day Mass organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN, in Abuja where media practitioners working tools were blessed by the Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Most Rev. David Ajang, CBCN Chairman on Social Communications.
Umoh who called for the promotion of media literacy across countries said It would help to build citizens in a democracy and guides political leaders to know how best to relate with the people, to be able to listen to their demands and work towards a better society for all.
He noted that Media literacy is important for building listening skills at all levels of society and for promoting unity, development and peace in the society, thereby calling on Nigerian politicians to listen to Nigerians to know their plight and know how to govern them positively.
“The reality is just obvious about what is going on at the moment with the primaries of political parties and it is disheartening and the signs still boiled to the fact that we are not listening.
“The politician are not listening to the people, they keep on drumming to themselves and dancing to their drums. Signs of the party primaries in the country is worrisome that even if the politician refuses to listen to themselves then the people themselves should try to listen to their own songs and do the right thing, because no politician will indeed succeed without using the same people they are oppressing.
“And the oppressor will not relinquish power to the oppressed until the oppressed wrestle that power away. But the way things are going many of the oppressed and people suffering are still allowing the politicians to play bread and one thousand naira politic with them. We have seen a lot happening with the delegates in the recent primaries where dollars, upon dollars exchanged hand. So this people are not choosing those that will help the people. They are choosing those who have given them money and therefore mortgaging the future and already terrible situation in the nation. So there’s a need for citizens of the country to wrestle power from the politicians.
Umoh, explained that listening as human action is dispensable to democracy, that the reality is obvious because what is going on presently with the primaries can be disheartening.
The Catholic Church further called on Nigerian politicians to listen to Nigerians to know their plight and know how to govern them positively or mean well for the people,” he said.
