- Tasks NAWOJ on Professional and Unbiased Reportage
The Labour Party,LP Guber candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata, has advocated the need for the media, which is the fourth estate of the realm to take the front role in upholding the rule of law in the country.
The Governorship candidate made the submission when he played host to the leadership of the umbrella body of women journalists in Edo state, NAWOJ.
He stressed the need for journalists to remain a formidable frontliners in the struggle for an egalitarian society.
Barr Akpata who is a Senior Advocate and the former National President of Nigeria Bar Association NBA , also advised the women journalists of the need to adopt the highest form of professionalism and ethics of the journalism profession in the discharge of their duties.
“Your pen is a powerful tool. I know the power of the media, I know your capacity to set agenda and change narratives. We must decide what we want, how we intend to move this country forward, otherwise the country will go to the underdogs of under development.”
Reeling out the issues that beset the Nigerian society, from abject poverty to bad governance and to the monetization of politics, lack of accountability and lack of judicious use of resources by those in governance.
“He appealed to journalists to pay attention to the monetization of politics, to the rate of poverty in the land and to be in the forefront in raising their voice in reducing the rate of transactional politics, where the highest bidder takes it all and subsequently subjects governance to ordeal through non or under-performance. “
“I will run a people-centric administration; government that is compassionate and not narcissistic. We need to address how to stop the monetization of politics. The people deserve the kind of leaders they get. We must begin to reorientate the people on good governance, to interrogate the system.
When you see people waylaying food trucks, stealing food, you will realise that hunger is real and there is only a thin line, between man and animal…that is what has propelled me into this space, so that we can successfully begin to address these issues with a view to reversing them. I assure you, you will not see me running a government that I will go there and trying to recoup.” He stated.
Earlier in her address, Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan, Chairperson, Edo NAWOJ commended the Governorship candidate on his noble initiatives, especially plans to ensure that women are equitably represented in his administration if elected in office and the assurance to reduce hunger and poverty in the land.
“As stakeholders, we have a part to play in building the society of our dream, and women journalists are unrelenting in pushing forward for equal representation of women in governance and for reduction in poverty, hunger and disease in the nation.”
She listed areas of collaboration between NAWOJ and the party flag bearer and similarly extended an invitation to him to be one of the special guest at the forthcoming Zonal Conference of the Association.
The NAWOJ Executives were also joined on the visit by Comrade Ijeoma Umeh, Pioneer Chairperson of NAWOJ, Edo State Chapter.
