Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Monday, urged journalists not to join those beating drums of war for the breakup of the country.
The governor said this while declaring open the 2021 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Kano,.
According to Ganduje, some media organisations in recent times had crossed redlines, by threatening the nation’s unity, harmony and integration through their reportage.
He said: “It is very important at this time that we should use the media for the promotion of peace and stability and change the viewpoints that could alter public views and sentiment toward a more peaceful resolution of our multifaceted current crises.
“If and only if we as a nation are interested in peace and harmony, we must reject hate propaganda machinery. In the main, this is a time editors should be conflict-sensitive about our nation.
“In other words, I have a feeling that the crossing of redlines by some media organisations in recent times has impacted on the nation’s unity, harmony and integration.
“Our brave, collective pursuit in uniting this nation, underscores the fact that for as long as we have a common purpose, we will find no obstacle big enough to stop us from marching on. The media and particularly our gatekeepers have a role to play in this regard.
“Besides, this is a time the editors should exercise the social responsibility you have to your country. Even if the governing authorities in Nigeria are encountering challenges in their strategy to develop the country, it is not enough to join in some fervent advocacy that seeks to beat drums of war to break up this country. I would like to appeal to you, the gatekeepers, to note that there is already some groundswell of opinion, which seems to be building some consensus on the expediency of restructuring the nation.
“That advocacy should not be confused with rebellious acts of some elements who would like to destabilise our great country.
“The media has a great role to play here in setting agenda for nation building. So, some ignorant and reckless commentators in your midst should be very careful in exercising freedom of speech at this time. That freedom can’t be exercised without some (social) responsibility.”
He added: “Based on my understanding, the Nigerian press is one of the freest in global context, but some obvious professional misconduct in the media has curiously become excessive, in this regard.
“I believe that absence of an influential press council that should regulate the print media, specifically has become an institutional weakness that should be tackled without delay.
“All controversies and litigations that have stalled the emergence of a respectable press council should be handled with care. There is therefore a sense in which we can say that the world over, self-regulation is not enough for any professional bodies. The question is; who watches over the watchdog too? You can see clearly that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has made some difference in regulating broadcasting, no matter our criticisms of the regulatory body, which even major broadcasters apologised to the other day.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, had said the media should live up to its role in social cohesion and safeguarding national security among others.
Shehu said: “As the link between the people and the government, the citizen faced with challenges need to be reassured that the government at various levels are working very hard to secure them and make them feel safe and stop the nonsense of the banditry and kidnapping in the midst of killings that we are witnessing.
“I think it is time we look inwards and see how we can help stop the spread of fake news, negativism and rumour.
“I think this is the opportunity to remind ourselves of our responsibility to improve social cohesion, safeguard national security in the country.”
