Security challenges: First lady urges journalists to work with government

The First Lady, Dame Patient Jonathan, on Tuesday called on the leadership of Nigeria Union of journalists to work with the government to address the security challenge facing the nation.
Jonathan made the appeal at the launch of a book entitled “the Making of an Oracle”, written by Yemi Kolapo, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga.
The first Lady was represented by Senator Helen Esuene, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs.
The First Lady said: “I appeal to the leadership of the NUJ to thrive harder and uphold the ethics and conduct of the profession and eschew abusive language and character assassination.
“In this time of threat and security challenges, all hands must be on deck to address the situation.
“The media must play a key role to douse the tension rather than fan the embers of hatred and discord.”
She noted that journalists had always been in the vanguard of entrenching and sustaining democracy in Nigeria
Dame Jonathan added: “We must pay tribute to the Nigerian journalists who have worked tirelessly to sustain democracy over the past 14 years.
“Also, the media is always in the forefront of agitation in the course of return to democratic rule.
“This underscores the need for you to be partners in progress with the nation’s leaders in the development of the economy and sustenance of democracy.
“You should also ensure that the dividends of democracy get to the people.”
She urged them to ensure that their interventions are in the best interest of the public as they play their traditional role of holding leaders accountable and engaging in constructive criticism.
The first lady said journalists should continue to exercise restraint in highlighting the negative aspects of society.
In his remarks, Aganga urged journalists to see themselves as trade and investment ambassadors.
He called on them to continue to collaborate with government to attract investors to the country.
The minister commended the author of the book for her contributions to journalism in Nigeria and urged the media to rise above the present difficulties by working with government to move the nation forward.
Tunde Lemo, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also extolled the courage of the author in her constructive criticism.
Lemo appealed to journalists to get clarification on issues they don’t understand before giving out such information to the public.
The President of the NUJ, Mohammed Garba, commended Kolapo for daring to publish some of her criticisms of the Federal Government’s economic agenda since 2008.
Garba said her work would make government and other stakeholders reconsider certain decisions on the economy and make adjustments where necessary in the interest of Nigerians.