Delta: NUJ Warns Members Against Helping Politicians Fuel Crisis With 2023 Ambition

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has warned her members against assisting politicians in whatever guise to promote division and rancorous atmosphere as 2023 general elections draw nearer.

The Council hand down the warning in a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Secretary, Comrade Patrick Ochei, on Thursday, following recent reports bordering on endorsements of Governorship Aspirants scheming to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The union said the reports which were posted on social media have been a ‘source of concern to the Union in the State’.

The statement expressed disappointment over what it described as ‘sensational journalism’ taking the centre stage on social media in the state, saying social media has made it difficult for society to differentiate who is a journalist from the myriad of citizen journalists or online tigers as the case may be.

The Union charged trained and professional journalists with requisite qualifications to practice their trade in an ethical manner that promotes peace, equity and justice in the society.

‘That is why they are called the mirror and conscience of the society and based on this truism, the Nigerian Constitution gives backing and protection to the profession to hold government accountable while at the same time mounting surveillance on the society’.

The statement therefore enjoined practitioners to be bound by their conscience and professional ethics and codes of conduct while discharging their statutory functions as journalists.

‘We are certain that those peddling the rumours that Governor Okowa has endorsed some candidate are not members of the union, therefore we are using this medium to warn members not to engage in such unprofessional ways of making media predictions.

‘We want to sound it clear that the consequences of indulging in a manner not reputed for journalistic tenets will be huge and unimaginable.

‘As we approach an election year, journalists must desist from publishing press releases from politicians hook, line and sinker without doing thorough checks and balancing. It is unethical to do copy and paste journalism or writing news stories from unverified sources.

‘The Council is therefore calling on politicians to go about with campaigns of issues rather than engaging in mudslinging, and thereafter start looking for journalists to engage to clean up their mess.

‘Any politician that is worth his or her salt should rather call for a press conference, coordinated by the NUJ instead of hiding under the guise of issuing press releases that have no substance.

The council, also warned politicians to refrain from using their social media aides to disparage ‘our noble profession by pasting worthless press releases to score cheap points’.

‘We may be left with no other option but to blacklist such politicians who have engaged non-professional journalists to manage their media.

‘We will help the government to sustain the atmosphere of peace and serenity in anticipation for the forthcoming elections in the State. What we will not allow is a situation where politicians will create crisis and then blame it on the media’.