Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Media and Strategy, Chief Chooks Oko, have enjoined media practitioners to be professional in the practice of their profession.
He made this call while receiving members of Association of Afikpo Media Practitioners who paid him a courtesy visit on his newly appointment, in his Office at Government House, Abakaliki,
Chief Oko appreciated the Association for their selfless sacrifices, which have held the Country together for ages and he also charged them to keep up the principle of accuracy, balancing of reports and objectivity in their reportage especially as the Country is going into 2023 general elections, in order to avoid overheating the political space.
“We are in a very precarious situation, the political times are here, a time when if we are not careful we will light up the whole place and it will start burning, it is your duty as Media Practitioners to ensure that this does not happen.
” I wish to Inform you all that Our role has been thrust upon us by nature because if you decide to be a Journalist, you have decided to tell the society what is going on in the very best way, also have decided to mold their opinions through your reportage.
“You have also decided to shape their destiny by the kind of information’s you allow them to access. I enjoin all the Practitioners to ensure that we adhere to the best practices.
” My advice to all Journalists, If you hear something, don’t get lazy to investigate properly in order to find out what is happening at the other side, because if you report one sided, you may put the whole area on fire and that may be very difficult to Quench.
“Do not allow anybody to use you this period when a lot of irresistible cash gets thrown around, as politicians are preparing for campaigns. If you are not focused as a Journalist, and you get carried away you will get derailed.
I enjoin you to always report with conscience, having it in mind that you belong to a professional group where members stands on their feet, proclaiming truth for everybody.”
The Special Assistant who also encouraged the Media to adequately report the monumental transformation of Ebonyi State by Governor David Nweze Umahi to enable the world appreciate his modest efforts within seven years in office thanked the Association for coming to identify with him for his new Office and pledged to carry them along in the scheme of things.
Earlier, the Association Chairman, Afikpo Association Media Practitioners, Comrade Emmanuel Irem while speaking on behalf of members of the Association said they have come to congratulate him and to assure him that they are in solidarity with him in his latest appointment.
The former Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, Mrs. Veronica Osim, the Acting General Manager of Ebonyi State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation, Chief Dom Isute, Ebonyi State Government House, Correspondent Abakaliki and the New Telegraph Newspaper reporter, Comrade Uchenna Inya, thanked the State Governor, Chief Engr David Umahi for the appointment of one of them.
