Imo State’s A Victim Of Bad Press -Uzodimma …Tasks Editors On Objective Reporting
THE Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma on Thursday stated that the security situation in his state is not as bad as being reported in the media, insisting that reports being churned out by some media outlets about the state are blown out of proportion.
The governor tasked editors of various media houses in the country to “be objective” in discharging their gatekeeping duties, and decried what he termed as bad reports against his administration and Imo State, urging that it will be better to have reports based on national interests than personal interests, which undermine national development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 18th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), 2022, holding at the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, with the theme: ‘2023: Political Landscape, Credible Election and the Role of Editors,’ and organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), he advised the editors to ensure that they report objectively, rather than heat up the political space in view of next year’s polls.
Uzodimma who accused the editors of being warped and opinionated in their reports about the state, which they send out to the public, while forcing them on the public noted; “Some people want to make their opinions their facts, and force it on us. Remember that conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it.
“We must tell you that the quality of your media practice is low. For us in Imo, we are doing our best to grow the profession,” while listing his administration’s area of contributed towards the growth of the media, to include employment of media workers, sustaining the state owned print and electronic media outfits, which include: Nigeria Statesman and Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), as well as training and re-training practitioners.
On his part, the President of the Guild, Mustapha Isah stated that the conference was out to examine all aspects of the 2023 election, including the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security before, during and after the polls, as well as the role of election observers.
According to him, the theme for this year’s conference – “Political Landscape, Credible Elecions and the Role of Editors” was carefully chosen in view of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, stating; “As journalists, we cannot afford to shy away from interrogating our present political landscape and preparations for the elections considering the fact that we played a great role in the enthronement of the current democratic dispensation. It is our enlightened self-interest to help nurture the baby which we made enormous sacrifices to midwife.”
While noting that the most effective way to sustain the people’s interest in democracy is the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, which he said partly explains why the media were in the forefront in the campaign for the passage of the Electoral Act, 2022, he added that it is hoped that commpliance with the law will lead to credible elections
Isah also stated; “We are aware that most of our politicians are desperate and can do anything to circumvent the system just to win, unfortunately, it is difficult to legislate against desperation.”
The event which had as Keynote Speaker, a former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati also had in attendance, the former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo; a foremost female Professor of Mass Communication, Stella Okunna; the President of NGE, Mustapha Isa, the Director, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Reuben Mouka, representing the Vice Chairman of the Commission, as well as editors of national and local print and electronic media houses, among others.
