Former lawmaker ,representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has charged Nigerian journalists to remain independent, professional and courageous in defending democracy, holding public officials accountable and providing citizens with credible information. Arise also cautioned media practitioners against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political manipulation, urging them to maintain professional independence when reporting issues involving powerful political actors.
Arise spoke in Ado-Ekiti while delivering the annual lecture organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, with the theme, “Internal Party Democracy, Good Governance, The Media and the Future of Nigerian Democracy.” The APC chieftain described the media as a critical pillar of democracy, stressing that the survival and consolidation of democratic governance depended not only on elections but also on the ability of journalists to effectively perform their watchdog responsibilities without fear or favour.
The former lawmaker urged political parties to respect their constitutions and guidelines, ensure credible membership registers, strengthen their structures and conduct transparent primary elections. He said internal democracy was crucial because political parties remained the gateway through which many leaders emerged into public office, adding that it would be difficult to expect democratic principles to thrive in government when they were absent within political parties.
Arise further urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession by informing rather than deliberately misleading the public, investigating rather than persecuting and questioning those in power without becoming tools for political manipulation. He also called on citizens to play their part by rejecting vote-selling, political opportunism and the circulation of unverified information, stressing that democracy required citizens who were willing to defend democratic principles even when outcomes did not favour them.
The Chairman of the Ekiti NUJ Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, commended Arise for accepting the invitation, describing his tenure as senator as a significant period in the state’s legislative development. He also called for improved remuneration, welfare and working resources for journalists, while the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Raphael Ogbonnaiye, stressed the importance of providing journalists with adequate tools and a conducive working environment to effectively inform the public and contribute to societal development.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to three distinguished personalities. Senator Ayo Arise received the Icon of Democracy Award, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, was honoured as Champion of Media Excellence, while the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, received the Distinguished Information Manager of the Year Award.
Oyebode, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, commended the Chapel for its contributions to development reporting and the communication of government policies, while Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, founder of Adamimogo FM, represented by Deji Ogunbusuyi, reaffirmed his continued support for journalists and the media.
