· As Okowa decries invasion of social
media space by miscreants, hack writers
·
Urges journalists to retrieve
profession from pretenders
The former governor of Delta state Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has
taken a swipe at the unwholesome activities of whistle blowers with a plea to
the Delta state Government to help reduce their blackmailing antics.
 |
| Dr. Uduaghan |
Dr. Uduaghan made the appeal Tuesday, 21/2/2017 at the
commencement of the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta
State chapter with the theme: “Good governance, journalists and social media,”
a theme that was addressed by the erudite professor of law, and former governor
of Edo state, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor at the Labour House, Asaba.
Uduaghan, who was chairman of the occasion, identified the
social media as a leveler as it provides a forum for people to air their views,
whether good, bad and ugly, but called for caution that leaders must be
cautious and careful in the handling and use of information emanating from the
platform.
He called attention to the issue of whistle blowers pointing
out that petitions by whistle blowers have no basis as most times whistle
blowers are just blackmailers. “
“I appeal to the Delta state Government that activities of
blackmailers should be reduced as such activities can lead to security
challenges if left unchecked,” Uduaghan said. He recalled how he intimated the
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Festus Agas in which he complained about the unwholesome
activities of these blackmailers, and that he had to bring the matter to the
public domain having waited without any response from the state government to
his complaint.
“I will not be part of anything that will bring insecurity
to Delta state,” Uduaghan said, appealing to the state government to help
reduce the benefits that blackmailers are enjoying on the social media in the
state.
He called on journalists not to take every social media
story hook, line and sinker, but that as journalists they should ask questions
when they stumble on such stories and do some investigation so as not to fall
victim of the antics of blackmailers.
In his speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Governor,
Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa observed that the social
media space has been invaded by jobless miscreants and hack writers who
regularly churn out fake news, and who take delight in black mail, extortion
and character assassination.
“It is so bad that almost on a daily basis, individuals, especially
public officials, are made to defend themselves against spurious and unfounded
allegations”, Okowa said.
He continued: “I don’t know whether it is out of pressure to
be relevant or to outdo the new media, some of the mainstream media are, regrettably,
beginning to toe the line of the social media in publishing rumour and fiction.
The cardinal principles of accuracy, fairness and balance are being violated to
the detriment of the profession and the public’s right to be properly and
adequately informed.”
The governor believes that the spectre of falsehood and
misinformation that currently dominate the social media is a clear and present
danger to the journalism profession. “ A situation where every person with a
phone or Ipad is now a journalist and a
broadcast station, does not augur well for the profession and for good
governance.
“It is incumbent on you the professionals to take back the
profession from this pretenders and impostors. It is time, I say, to take back
your profession!,” Okowa protested.
Information commissioner, Mr. Patrick Ukah reiterated
Governor Okowa’s call that journalists must retrieve their profession from
social media charlatans masquerading as journalist. He said: “Professional
journalists must take over the social media. The professional journalists ust
take over the cyber space and push out truthful information and opinions.”
A green light to this effect came from Mr Edward
Akpati-Ogude, the NUJ vice president, Zone F, South-South, who represented the
National President of NUJ, Mr. Waheed Odusile, and who intimated that the issue
of discipline among journalists is being treated with seriousness. “It has come
to the notice of the NUJ that some journalists are being used by some
politicians to blackmail other politicians. The union is looking into this and
will not fail to flush out culpable journalists,” he said
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