By Our Reporter
The member representing Ogbaru federal constituency of Anambra state in the National Assembly, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene has tasked media professionals on forcing public office-holders to give account of their office.
Hon. Ogene who is the chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, and, Labour Party (LP) Caucus leader gave the admonition in his lecture titled, “Defining A New Economic And Societal Order: The Role Of The Media” at a two-day summit of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South East Zone with theme: “South East: Towards A Robust Economic Blueprint For Sustainable Development” which started in Awka, Anambra state yesterday.
The lawmaker whose lecture was delivered on his behalf by Dean of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Prof. Collins Okafor said the current hardship in the country and the consequent mass unrest was because of bad governance and inability of leadership to enthrone a new order.
He, however, enumerated so many challenges limiting performances of media practitioners ranging from poor remuneration, lack of access to information, intimidation among others.
Despite the challenges, Ogene how stated that media practitioners have recorded milestones in advancing governance stating how the media exposed mishandling of petroleum subsidy payment, issues relating to poor electricity supply, exposing of corruption in governance and failures in campaign promises.
Keynote speaker, president and chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku bemoaned that Nigeria was designed for the citizens to continue to fight each other.
He also decried corruption in the country and urged that unless there was a deliberate effort to redesign the country on a path of sustainable development to stop it from wobbling it would never see progress.
The national president of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isi-uzor represented by the national secretary, Comrade Achike Chude, and,Vice-President of NUJ, South-East zone, Comrade Emma Ifesinachi bemoaned that our country is currently on the crossroads.
Isiguzo stated that Hon Victor Afam Ogene as a professional journalist has made sterling contributions towards improving the country, and, said the award presented to him was to showcase him to the youths for emulation and to challenge him to do more.
Comrade Ifesinachi said the summit was planned to produce action plan to improve governance in the country and urged governments in the South East zone to co-opt journalists to be part of governance in the zone.