The Minister of Works, Chief David Nweze Umahi, has urged Nigerian media to sustain democracy and shun taking sides with the candidates or show preference to political parties in upcoming 2027 General Elections.
Umahi, who is the former Governor of Ebonyi State, gave the charge while delivering a lecture on Thursday evening at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Enugu, Correspondents’ Chapel Press Week.
The press week is themed: “Strengthening Democracy Through Responsible Journalism: 2027 Polls in Focus,”
Represented by his media aide, Emmanuel Uzor, minister said that it was not the duty of journalists to say that this candidate’s manifesto is better the other candidate’s manifesto.
He noted that as the watchdog of the society and the forth estate in the realm, they should carry out their constitutional roles dispassionately without preferring one party or one candidate to the detriment of others.
Umahi, while acknowledging the media’s role of holding leaders accountable, said that the media should not takes sides or make preferred choices.
“Journalists should not take sides. 2027 is here and every party, all the candidates are showing their manifestos. It is not your duty to say that this candidate or that candidate is better,” he urged.
He maintained that the media had a duty to bring everybody under one umbrella, noting that, “democracy thrives better when the media do their jobs very well.”
Umahi however pointed out that while carrying out their onerous task of holding the society, especially the ruling class accountable, they are being hated except when they choose to do praise-singing.
He warned that they media should not abdicate their duties. “You should fill in the gap between the leaders and the led,” he exhorted.
On his part, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, delivered a key note address, tagged: “The Role of Media and Other Critical Stakeholders in Sustaining the Fight Against Corruption.”
Olukoyede, who was represented by the South Zonal Director of EFCC, Mr Daniel Isei, stressed the important roles played by the media in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.
According to him, the media have been playing critical roles of ensuring good governance and a better society, and urged them to sustain it to holding the leaders accountable.
He said the Nigerian media deserve accolades for what they have done and have continued to do in sanitising the society.
“The media in Nigeria deserve their flowers for the critical roles they play in ensuring good governance and a better society.
“You have been playing your watchdog role and that is holding the people and institutions accountable,” he said.
The EFCC boss pointed out that it is because of the sterling of the media that prompted the crafters of the Constitution to give the media the responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people.
He, however, cautioned that the media must not lose focus from their role to indulge in cynicism. “In fighting corruption, the media should not amplify public cynicism of the facts,” he cautioned.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Anthony Ani, SAN, equally acknowledged the important role of the media in the society.
Ani cautioned that facts should be verified before dishing information to the public.
