The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kogi State Council has cautioned politicians in the state to desist from casting aspersion on members of the union who are doing their legitimate work.
Comrade Adeiza , Chairman of the Council gave the advice on Friday in Lokoja when he received the executive members of Ododo Support Group, who were in his office on a courtesy visit.
He said that politicians accusing journalists in the state of reports they believed were not favorable to them had no moral justification for their damaging remarks on members of the fourth estate of the realm.
According to him, Journalists in the state have no preferred candidates in their reportage of political activities in the state as being erroneously expressed in some quarters in the state.
He said that all the candidates in the November 11, governorship election, irrespective of their political party, are welcome at the press centre, to tell members of the press about their manifesto for adequate and objective reporting.
He advised politicians yet to visit the centre to come forward, assuring them that they would receive equal and adequate publicity.
“There is nothing any journalists can do unless such politicians make themselves available to them, telling them of their promises to the electorate for onward dissemination to the public.
“I’m using this opportunity to advised politicians to dwell on issue-based campaign and not ethnicity inclined to ensure a peaceful election , come November 11, 2023” he said.
While commending the group for aligning itself with the concept of a peaceful and issue-based campaign, the NUJ Chairman urged its members to report objectively before , during and after the election.
He promised that journalists would synergize with the group to achieve its aims and objectives, reminded politicians that ethnic colouration, especially on political activities, was alien to kogites.
Earlier, the Director General of the group, Engr.Suleiman Adehira who was represented by the Director, Door to Door campaign of the group, Engr. Mufutau, said the executive members of the group were in chairman’s office to tell him on their activities and to create synergy with journalists in the state for the electoral victory of the governorship candidate of APC .
Adehira disclosed that the group comprised of 18 directorates with 48 directors among others, saddled with different responsibilities all towards ensuring the electoral victory of Ododo.
He solicited the cooperation of members of the union for effective coverage of its activities and for the realization of the aims and objectives of the group.
