The Atiku Media Office, a socio-political organisation, said the media were strong and reliable instruments for building strong democratic institutions in the country.
The Coordinator of the organisation, Paul Ibe, stated this at the Annual Breaking of Fast (Ramadan Iftar) with the Media and 10th Award Night of the organisation in Abuja, late on Thursday.
Ibe said the media were also responsible for promoting democratic norms and values in the country.
According to Ibe: “The media is a strong instrument for building strong democratic institutions and this is why our organisation was created 10 years ago to redeem the image of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“’One of the greatest successes of the Media Office was its ability to make Atiku’s story heard, thereby making Nigerians appreciate his travails better.”
In a keynote speech at the event, Dr. Adeolu Akande, the Executive Director, Image Edge (Ltd), urged journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession while political events unfolded in the country.
Akande said negative deployment of the media through publication or broadcast of false or misleading stories could result in election failures and indeed violence and destruction.
He said: “A key example is the aftermath of misleading news that resulted in the death of 1,333 persons and displacement of over 600,000 people in the 2007 Kenyan elections.”
Akande urged the media to use their power positively to develop and build institutions around the country and hold people accountable to their actions.
The body presented award of outstanding performance to its pioneer staff, including Malam Garba Shehu, who is currently the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other awardees were Dr. Onukaba Ojo and Chris Mamah.
The event was attended by heads of media organisations, including Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria; and Lawal Ado, Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria, who was represented by Director, States Operations, Ibrahim Mammaga.
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