Cole, Others Praise Nigerian Journalists’ Role In Democracy

The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has praised Nigerian journalists for the significant roles they have played in the struggle and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
In a message he sent to the dinner and closing of the 2022 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt on Friday, Cole said right from the beginning of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence, Nigerian journalists have been at the forefront in fighting colonialism and dictatorship.
“The media in Nigeria’s history has always led from the front,” said Cole, whose message was delivered by his spokesperson, Mr. Sogbeye Eli, who represented him at the occasion. He cited the pioneering efforts of nationalists like Herbert Macaulay and Nnamdi Azikiwe, who used their newspapers to fight against colonialism; and Dele Giwa who was killed because of his dogged commitment to the ideals of journalism.
Commending the theme of the Week, Ahead of Peaceful Election in Rivers State, the APC candidate said the media must continue to work for peaceful and fair elections and to play its constitutional role of holding government accountable to the people for “any society without an active and responsible media is finished.”
He however expressed concern about a current threat to democracy where the government in the state has tried to emasculate opposition political parties despite a constitutional guarantee of a multiparty democracy.
He said what happened in the state in 2015 when violence was deployed to suppress opposition parties during the campaigns was rearing its ugly head again in 2023. He recalled how a journalist working for Channels TV was stabbed and a policeman killed in Okrika during an opposition party’s rally.
“If we seek office to serve the people then we should allow the people to determine who serves them.” He condemned the imposition of a nonrefundable levy of N5 million on any party that intends to use public spaces to campaign.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Civil Society Organization in Rivers State, Mr. Enefaa Georgewill, called on all the governorship candidates to declare their assets. “For the governor to be accountable, we must follow the money. Let all the candidates declare their assets,” he said.
The immediate-past Commissioner for Information and Communications in Rivers State, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, who was represented by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Chief Celestine Ogolo, praised media correspondents for giving publicity to government activities, which he said opened the way for the many awards including the Doyen of Infrastructure by the Presidency that the governor had won.
The General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Chief Ernest Chinwo, urged journalists not to relent in their efforts to better society whether there are appreciated or not.
The Vice-Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Mrs. Dana Benebo, assured the Correspondents’ Chapel of the support of her association.
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Amaechi Okonkwo, said journalists desired peaceful elections in Rivers State and that was why the chapel invited participants in the political process to make commitments to peace during the elections.
He expressed sadness over the demise of two elders of the chapel, Messrs. Ones Mpiegbunam and Joe Ezuma last year, as well as the loss of the chapel’s Hummer Bus to armed robbers. Both the representatives of Tonye Cole and Paulinus Nsirim promised to raise the issues of the lost bus with their principal’s.
The Correspondents’ Week activities which began on Monday would be rounded off with a church service on Sunday at Eleutheria Church, Elimgbu.