Stakeholders Tasks Journalist to Continue to Write in Public Interest

Stakeholders Tasks Journalist to Continue to Write in Public Interest

Sunday Ehigiator

Journalist have been tasked never to relent in writing to protect the interest of the public and wider society, despite the threats to press freedom faced by journalists in the country.

This much was demonstrated at the screening of The Avalon Daily’s documentary, ‘Paying The Price (Press freedom in Nigeria)’, recently held at Freedom park, Lagos.

The documentary told the story of six journalists; Dapo Olorunyomi, Babafemi Ojudu, George Mbah, Nosa Igiebor, Soji Omotunde, and Kunle Ajibade) who were tortured and jailed by the military government for publishing stories that were in the interest of the society.  Kunle Ajibade and George Mbah were both jailed for life.

In his keynote address, Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who also was a one time Managing Director of the Daily Times, stressed on the roles of journalists in a democratic settings, one in which he described as being “of great significance.”

According to him, “the democracy and freedom we enjoy in Nigeria today was fought for by the media. I have urged my colleagues at the Tell magazine, The News, The Guardian and others to write their story so people can know what the media passed through during the military regime. Some of you might have heard of NADECO, but that was just a wing or an arm in the fight for democracy.

“What you have just watched now (the documentary) is the price the media had to pay to usher in democracy in our country.”

Representing the governor of Lagos state, Mr Babajide Sanwolu, the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, paid tribute to those journalists who paid the ultimate price for defending their ideals and the ethics of their profession.

“I’m glad that there are students of journalism who are also in attendance here, hopefully they would learn a bit of history and what it means to be a good journalist.”

Omotoso also recalled the ordeals of some of his colleagues like Senator Ojudu who was at one point held in a cemetery by the junta. He concluded his remarks by commending The Avalon Daily for putting together the documentary, saying they were “preserving an important historic event in our country.”

Also speaking, the Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa said “The Avalon Daily has dug into the history of journalism and media in Nigeria to produce a documentary about the huge price paid by veteran journalists during the military era.

“As a people, we cannot afford to ignore the sacrifices made by those who risked all to give us a voice during oppression. I believe that as long as there is a chance for despots and authoritarian regimes to thrive, we owe our society a collective responsibility to speak up. This documentary on Paying the Price of press freedom in Nigeria is a commendable memoir that has shed light on a part of Nigeria’s history that we cannot simply forget.”

Speaking after the screening was Special Adviser on Communications, to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Hakeem Bello, representing the honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

“As you know, Mr. Babatubde Fashola is a stickler for documentation and he takes the documentation of important historical events like this documentary very seriously. I personally recall when my friend and colleague was also detained at the famous cemetery and those were ugly times for our country and journalists in particular.

“I am glad that the efforts of journalist, particularly in that era has been documented by The Avalon Daily, and we must continue to encourage other journalists to live up to the ethics of the profession.”

The event was brought to a close with the Managing Editor of The Avalon Daily and producer of the documentary, Mr Ayodele Adio, whom while delivering his vote of thanks, recognised one of the victims of military’s abuse of power, Mr George Mbah, who was jailed for life by the Abacha led military government.

Mr Mbah who also spoke briefly at the event, stressed that “journalist should continue to do their work in the interest of the society and damn the consequences.”

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