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Media Professionals Urge Politicians to Shun Election Violence

By Prince Olalekan Olagunju

Consortiums of media professionals have appealed to the political class in Nigeria to eschew violence, imbibe peace, and exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship whenever they lose at the polls.

The last election was characterised by belligerent and bellicose actions, arguments, intimidations, and vile statements as an opportunity to win at all costs; and crush political opponents rather than readiness to serve the people with responsibility and accountability.

This position was endorsed at the just concluded Public Lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) under the theme “Post-Election” Nigeria: Paths To National Restoration & Peace”, which was held at the Combo Hall of Lagos State Television in Lagos.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi said: “The 2023 General Elections have brought different issues in its aftermath as a number of court cases are still being pursued against the election outcome.

“Nigeria has a long history of violence during elections which sadly manifested again in 2023.

“Closely related to violence was the suppression of voters, which is also known as deliberate disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

“The increased use of technology in Nigerian elections has reduced the kind of rigging that was traditional; such as ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, over voting and alteration of results.”

Ajayi further revealed that insufficient voter education and logistical challenges were some of the grey areas of the 2023 General Elections.

“At the Post-Election Review of the 2023 General Elections with Media Stakeholders recently in Lagos, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said ” there were many positive things that came out of the 2023 elections  in spite of many challenges,” he said.

The NUJ Chairman affirmed that efforts should be made to address the lapses of the 2023 elections for better outcome in subsequent elections in order to chart a path for restoration and peace in the country.

On his part, the Chairman of the Occasion and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Martins Oloja enjoined Nigerians to be hopeful of a better country.

“National Orientation is key for us to believe in ourselves and Nigeria. Although, the journey to total restoration may be far but we need to have faith in our country and profession,” he advised.

Oloja said Journalism remains the best profession in the world because the media is capable of calling the  three arms of government (Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary) to order whenever the need arises by making them accountable to the people.

Oloja revealed that the major responsibility of the media is to build content for restoration, peace and not to be carried away with politics. He also emphasised the need for scholars to research into “Political Economy of the Press Freedom” because importation of newsprint (paper) at exorbitant costs has made publishing an herculean task; as academics could exert on the thinking of the government and private sectors to design favourable policies for ease of doing business.

The guest Speaker, Professor Sunday Alawode, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), spurred Journalists to be patriotic in discharging their duties as an inciting story may tear the country apart.

“Elections should not be seen as war in Nigeria. Losers should be able to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship because they can win some other time.

“As journalist we should build a Nigeria of our own dreams that we can bequeath to our children.

“Government should be about meeting the needs of Nigerians and not for furthering personal gains,” he added.

The University Don said that Rome was not built in a day, saying it will require the collective responsibility of the citizenry to restore Nigeria to a peaceful and progressive nation.

The Scholar urged government to speedily tackle corruption, poverty and insecurity in order to confront some of the challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

“Nigeria needs strong institutions to move forward just as we also need to hold people accountable to the Government,” Alawode explained.

He urged media owners to secure Insurance cover for journalists, as many lives have been lost on the job, leaving the family of the deceased hopeless.

General Manager, Lagos Traffic Radio, Mr. Tayo Akanle, reiterated the need for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. “Without peace, unity and tolerance, it will be hard for us to progress as a nation,” Akanle stressed.

A Panel of Discussants comprising the President, Guild of Online Publishers, Ms Maureen Chigbo; Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Peter Dada, and Director Public Affairs, Lagos State Government, Mr. Shina Odunuga took time to respond to questions from some attendees at the event.

The remarkable event was a learning avenue for students of Mass Communication from Crawford University (CRU), at Igbesa, Ogun State, Yaba College of Technology (Yaba Tech) and Lagos State University (LASU) among others.

Other dignitaries at the event were General Manager, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Mr. Jide Lawal; General Manager, LTV, Olori Adesola Kosoko; some leaders of the Union such as Otunba Gbenga Onayiga; and former National Trustee of NUJ Sylvester Okereke among others.

editor

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