LAGOS CJ URGES JOURNALISTS TO ENSURE FAIR, UNBIASED COVERAGE OF ELECTION, OTHERS

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Chief Judge of Lagos State,  Justice Opeyemi Oke,  on Wednesday charged journalists to ensure fair and unbiased coverage of elections and other activities in the country in order not to heat up the polity. Oke gave the charge at the 2018 Annual Lecture of the Ikeja branch of the  National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC). The lecture had the theme “The Role of Judiciary,  Media in the 2019 Election. 

Oke represented by Justice Josephine Oyefeso said “The media acts as a watchdog with a duty to provide unbiased,  fair and informative coverage of the 2019 elections.

“Responsible reporting of events must be the guiding principle of the media,  apart from the electronic and print media,  social media has also gained tremendous ground in this country. In the last election,  it played a vital role as a watchdog in the process of electioneering. Social media platforms like Facebook, twitter, Whatsapp and Instagram will continue to play a dominant role in communicating with the members of the public and monitoring elections and results. 

“The need for responsible reporting to avoid fake news,  cannot be overemphasized we must take the good and jettison the bad. Judiciary Correspondents covering the various election petition proceedings that will be set up must report proceeding in an unbiased,  fair and upright manner. When a case is under judgment the media must ensure that it does nor interfere with the fair trial obligation of the court. 

“Accuracy must be our watchword and you must ensure you do not compromise ongoing court proceedings bearing in mind that here are at least two sides to a story.  We should not forget that lack of professionalism and objectivity may plunge the nation into crisis,  we should never forget the events in Rwanda in 1994 and Kenya in 2007,” the Chief Judge said. 

The keynote speaker, Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said that though Nigerian laws had provided sufficiently for press freedom there was a need for journalists to be adequately remunerated. 

“The Nigerian press had been imbued with sufficient of freedom under our Constitution,  and as such,  there is no need to amend the Constitution to specifically provide for the independence of the press.  For us to make any tangible progress in our quest for democratic stability,  the Nigerian press has to be free from censorship by either the government,  its operatives or proprietors of media outfits. 

“For a journalist or pressman who is  not gainfully employed, or who is under what economists call ‘disguised unemployment’. Who receives peanuts or nothing for his services to his employers cannot make any meaningful contribution to the either the 2018 general elections or the evolution of democracy. A hungry man cannot be a happy man,  instead,  he is bound to be an angry personality,” he said. 

Olanipekun said there is a need for Nigerians to appreciate the vital role of the press in every sphere of the nation and commended the profound editorial opinions published in various print media. Olanipekun hailed the roles of the judiciary in ensuring the sustainability of the country’s democracy. 

“President Goodluck Jonathan honourably and commendably conceded defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari after the 2015 Presidential election. Nigerians have lost sight of the fact that the Presidential election of Saturday,  Mar. 28,  2015, was only held because of the judicial intervention of Kolawole J.,  of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division. On Mar. 25, 2015, he granted a stay of proceedings in the pre-election matter brought against INEC. 

“It was the judiciary that halted the Obasanjo administration’s penchant to sack, at its whims and caprices,  and using coercive powers of State,  any Governor of a state who was perceived to be an enemy of the Federal Government  or the President. This started from the celebrated case of Inakoju vs Adeleke, through to Dapianlong vs.Dariye and Hon. Mike Balonwu vs Mr Peter Obi,” he said. 

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President noted that the type of politics being played in Nigeria does not pretend to bring forth statesmen, how much more world citizens. 

“The truth be told,  our democracy stands as perhaps the most monetised democracy globally.  Across political parties and lines,  notes are purchased at every stage of election. Apart from INEC and SEICs,  political parties themselves should evolve to the status of institutions,  if our democracy must last. Any political party worth its name must have clear-cut ideologies,  policies, ethos,  ethics and traditions which are engraved in the DNA of its members,” Olanipekun said. 

The Attorney- General of Lagos, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, in his speech said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, is committed to ensuring swift and fair administration of justice.  Kazeem who was represented by Mr Idowu Akinwunmi,  his Senior Special Adviser (SSA) urged the press to be unbiased in their reportage of national issues. 

“Equally, the populace depend largely on professional reporting journalism and I must commend the members of this Association for attaining the required level of this societal obligation. As stakeholders here seated, it is therefore our collective responsibility as a society to continue to uphold fair, independent and accountable institutions to carry out its work in a responsible manner. The theme of this lecture is relevant as we draw closer to the election.  Though the focus of today’s topic focuses on the judiciary and media, individually and within our respective institutions, we all have a role to play in the coming elections,” he said. 

In his address of welcome,  Mr Akinwale Akintunde,  the Chairman of NAJUC, represented by his Vice Mr Gbenga Adewoye said the theme of the lecture was very apt because of the importance of elections in the country. 

“You will all agree with me that as the 2019 general elections draw near, and the widespread social media campaign for citizens to get their Permanent Voters Card intensifies, a number of people have a few questions on their lips.One of such questions is can we ever get it right in this country?  The answer is yes but it can only happen when we all, particularly the media and the judiciary play our roles effectively,” he said.