The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has felicitated with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kogi State on the occasion of this year’s celebration of the annual press week in the state.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the APC candidate commended journalists in Kogi State for their hard work and dedication to ensuring adequate media coverage of activities in the state through various media platforms.
Ododo who extolled the contributions of the mass media and its operatives to the sustenance and well being of any society noted that journalists in Nigeria have earned their respectable place as critical stakeholders in the
democratic process in the country.
While calling on political leaders to recognize the role of the media in promoting democratic values such as freedom, equality, peace and stability in the society, the APC Governorship candidate advocated for adequate compensation for journalists including insurance cover in view of the occupational hazards associated with the practice of journalism.
He charged the media to uphold the principles of fairness and balance in reporting issues of interest to the people of the state.
According to him “As you celebrate the press week, I urge you to uphold utmost responsibility in creating a balanced, fair and unbiased platform for all political parties and their candidates to present their agenda for a united, secure, peaceful and a prosperous Kogi state.”
He also called on the media to be wary of purveyors of divisive agenda capable of breaching the peace and unity of the state, adding that those promoting ethnic disharmony in their political campaigns are enemies of Kogi state.