Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has called on journalists to display high sense of professionalism, patriotism and discipline in their calling and avoid hate speeches and reports that tend to divide the nation.
Bello made the call at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with media executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Friday night in Lokoja.
According to the governor, some reports in the media of late tend to polarize the nation.
He urged that reports that tend to sabotage unity of the nation or divide the people and undermine the corporate existence of the country should be avoided to pave way for advancement and development of the country.
“Avoid misrepresentation of facts and limit report of those things that tend to divide us even if it is true.
“Continue to do your best; I am aware of the menace of social media which has overwhelmed the conventional media.
“On governance, we had to take a bold step and put our political interests on the line to ensure that the right things are done. I am not unmindful of the circumstances that brought me in,’’ he said.
On the recent staff verification and salary issues, the governor maintained that no genuine worker of the state would be shortchanged, adding that the backlogs of salary arrears were being cleared.
He promised to create an environment more conducive for interaction to enable government to right the wrongs of the past, identify weaknesses and strengthen them for overall development of the state.
Speaking earlier, the state Council Chairman of NUJ, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Adeiza commended the governor for his courage and commitment to effecting necessary changes in various areas of the state economy.
He commended Bello for the positive changes effected at the state-owned Graphic Newspaper and the Broadcasting Corporation (Radio-Kogi).
Adeiza assured the governor of the continued cooperation of the NUJ, and urged him to create the enabling environment and provide support for journalists covering the state to discharge their duties effectively.
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