2023: AKIRE OF IKIRE-ILE CHARGES JOURNALISTS ON OBJECTIVE REPORTS
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a prominent traditional ruler in Osun State, the Akire of Ikire-Ile, Oba Abdulazees Olatunbosun has charged journalists to be objective and truthful in their professional activities.
The monarch spoke in Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday at a public lecture organized by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He said “As we approach the 2023 general elections, I enjoin the Nigerian media to remain an impartial and patriotic participant in the activity that would usher in new sets of political leadership in the country.”
His words “The legislature has a unique and crucial role to play in the development of democratic governance through the production of appropriate laws and carry out oversight functions to engender societal progress and make life more meaningful for the people. To do this, the legislature has to remain people centered, progressive minded and God fearing.
“We live at a time in Nigeria where governance requires the support, patience and participation of everyone to succeed. In the glorious Qur’an, the Lord of the universe, Allâh says in part:
“Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour” (Qur’an 5:2).
“The legislature could be of great help to the executive and the people if members could be more circumspect in their relationship with the executive arm of government.
“For instance, Sir Celestine Ngozichim Omehia was sworn-in as the fourth Governor of Rivers State, on 29th May 2007, but his victory was annulled by the Supreme Court on 25th October, 2007 and Mr Chibuike Amaechi was sworn-in as Governor having been declared to be the legitimate PDP governorship candidate. The decision of the Supreme Court is that Omehia was never a governor and so should not be referred to as a former governor.
“However when Governor Wike came to power in 2015, he felt that Omehia should be recognized as a former governor, and somehow, the House of Assembly went ahead to support this idea to recognize Omehia as a former governor contrary to the Supreme Court ruling.
“The motion was perfected, moved and approved as a result of which Omehia enjoyed all the privileges of the State as a former governor including statutory payments.
“Few days ago however, the Rivers State House of Assembly in her wisdom decided to derecognize Omehia as a former governor because recognizing him as a former governor was contrary to the Supreme Court ruling. So, Governor Nyesom Wike signed to effect the legislative instrument of de-recognizing Omehia as former governor on Friday 7th October, 2022.
“But that did not come until he has been paid N695.5 million as former governor for over seven years. He was then asked to refund the money he was paid in seven years within seven days. This has led to a lot of arguments and counter arguments on a national scale. If the legislature had acted a little more independent, critically and carefully, maybe this scenario would have been completely avoided.
“Having said this, I like to commend the Osun State NUJ for this initiative to provide an annual platform for discussing pertinent issues of progress and development to Nigeria. As we approach the 2023 general elections, I enjoin the Nigerian media to remain an impartial and patriotic participant in the activity that would usher in new sets of political leadership in the country,” he added.
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