Nigerian Media Organisations Urged to Shun Partisanship; Provide Platforms For Political Parties to Campaign.

BON Committee Members

The Nigerian Media have been urged to avoid partisanship and all broadcast, publications that can threaten the peace, Unity and progress of the nation.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who gave the advice while declaring open the 6th General Assembly  of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON with the theme "The Role of the Media in the Nigerian Electoral Process" in Lagos urged them to balance their reports base on facts, fairness and truth.

The Governor represented by his Deputy,  Dr. Iditarod Adebole pointed out that the Country is in critical phase in the process of governance stressing that Media should play it's part by  demonstrating professionalism in the disemination of information to the populace.

He said the media as a mediator between the people and political parties and the election  umpire cannot afford to fail Nigerians, while urging them to use their influence and reach to get all registered voters to go and collect their Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs)

 In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC,  Mammud Yakubu described the Media as not only the cornerstone of democracy,  but also play an indespensable role in the proper functioning of any democratic system.

The INEC Chairman remarked that the vital role of the media as watchdog in the Democratic process and in influencing political discuss especially during elections is essential democratic consolidation and called for the support of  all and sundry in order to achieve credible and  peaceful  elections come 2019.

Speaking also in his keynote speech, Dr. Christopher Kolade described hate speech as a tool for seperation, anarchy,  chaos which comes from the mind, expressed verbally and does not bring peace nor unity, while urging broadcast and print media to avoid using provocative words in their reports.

In his goodwill message, the Director General, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Is'haq Midibo-Kawu Kawu through a Director in the commssion, M.M. Saga said political broadcast must be in decent language and warned broadcast stations not to use their licenses to promote hatred, acrimony and violence during the election campaigns.

Earlier in his address of welcome,  the Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria ( BON ) noted that the task before broadcast organisations are not only clear, but enermous hence they cannot shy away from their responsiblities, maintaining that they must play their role creditably according to the ethics guiding the profession.

Our Lagos Area correspondent,  Ruth Sunday who covered the event reports that many broadcast Heads in Nigeria were in attendance including the DG, BCA, Chief Uchenna Dike.