Uduaghan harps on truthful journalism, unity of Nigeria

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has charged journalists to always abide by their professional ethics and ensure that their reports are factual and truthful.
Uduaghan, speaking at the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists 2013 Press Week in Asaba on Tuesday, also tasked media practitioners to play their roles in protecting the unity, growth and development of the country.
The governor observed that journalists as the Fourth Estate of the Realm have an onerous responsibility to always publish the truth, “even if it is negative but truthful, government will accept it and make adjustments.”
He noted that the state government does not believe in gagging the press but cautioned the media against falsehood, blackmail and sensational journalism.
Uduaghan admitted that Nigeria was currently facing some challenges, which required the cooperation and concerted actions of both the leadership and followers in making the nation grow.
He reminded journalists in the country that they have a stake in ensuring the survival and progress of the country, saying: “Any action that will not bring peace and development, whether from the leaders or the followers, should be discouraged.”
The governor expressed displeasure about the blackmail and deliberate falsehood by a section of the media against the foreign training programme for journalists sponsored by the state government.
He noted that it was the duty of the employers of journalists to train their staff, explaining that the state government only intervened in view of the challenges the media industry was facing.
Uduaghan said: “”We know that your employers may not be in a position to organise training programme for you.
“We took up the responsibility to develop journalists in the state so as to improve their performance.
“What we got in return was blackmail and deliberate falsehood from among the journalists.”
The governor informed that the state government would continue the training programme for journalists since it was helping to build the capacity of beneficiaries.
He also commended the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government for their compromise that resulted in the calling off of the five-month old industrial action that crippled activities at the nation’s universities.
The state Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, who described Uduaghan as a media-friendly governor, commended him for the foreign training programme and other help he has been offering to journalists in the state.