By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
Nigerians have been cautioned against voting politicians that would further destroy and bury the country, following years of bad leadership that have plunged the country into severe economic hardship.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom who made the call in Abuja yesterday at a retreat for journalists said the warning became necessary as Nigeria was in a critical stage of her economic and political developments requiring the right leadership to save it from eventual collapse.
The retreat was organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council with the theme: ‘In search of a better Nigeria through Responsible journalism” held at Roses Regency Hotels and Suites, Wuye district, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
The Governor who was represented by his commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong said that any attempt to make wrong choice in 2023 would take the country many years back.
Akwa Ibom NUJ chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk in a remark lamented lack of government recognition of media in building a better Nigeria but charged journalists to set an agenda for next year’s general elections.
“The politicians seeking our votes have dismissed our relevance, they forget that all of us seated here today and millions across 774 Local Government Areas in the country are the structures needed to give our country the best in the next few months.
“We must set agenda for good and transformational leadership. We must write with boldness, resist the current attempts to lay siege against the media, we must insist on a free press all within the boundaries of the ethics of this well-respected profession.” he said.
In a wellcome.address, chairman of Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Idongesit Ashameri pointed out that the retreat was to remind Journalists of their role in holding political leaders accountable and reminding them of their electioneering promises to the people.
Ashameri regretted that most journalists are quick and thrilled to give the best colouration and in the most appealing ways to such promises by politicians which sadly most of them fail to fulfill.
“But the question is how often do we consciously remind governments at all levels of the need to ensure a congruence between their policies and programmes in office with the electioneering promises earlier made to the electorate through our various media organisations.
“Gentlemen, this is where our responsibility comes in. This outing is therefore designed to afford us the opportunity to retrain our members on the rudiments of responsible journalism especially as the general election approach.
“We have no doubt that this outing would also afford us the opportunity to be re-equipped with techniques and skills on how best to track, consciously remind and hold government accountable to it’s electioneering promises,” she said.
Goodwill messages were received from the FCT Council of the NUJ and the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ.
