By CHARLES IWUOHA

Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, has called on politicians and youths to shun thuggery and other actions capable of jeopardizing peace in the state.

The Chapel described Ebonyi State as very peaceful and should not be plugged into crisis, urging political actors and their supporters to play by the rules.

Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Samson Nwafor, stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, while briefing journalists on Chapel’s Press Week’s activities with the theme “Time to Deepen Media Involvement in Nigeria’s Democracy.”

He called on the people of the state to participate in the 2023 general elections to enable them to elect their preferred leaders.

“As the 2023 General Elections gather momentum, we call on the political actors in Ebonyi State to play by the rules and shun actions that are capable of jeopardizing the relative peace existing in the state. We also call on the youth to shun thuggery and violence, as doing so constitute grave consequences to the future of Nigeria.

“We further call on Ebonyians to ensure that they participate fully in choosing their leaders in the upcoming general elections by making sure that they register and obtain their voter cards now that the registration is ongoing across the State.

“As the theme of this year’s Press Week aptly captures, the time has come to deepen Media involvement in Nigeria’s Democracy if we desire to make a meaningful progress as a nation,” Nwafor said.

He described Press week as an annual ritual in the journalism profession and a period to take stock of operations as journalists to know how the media practitioners have fared within the period.

“It is on the strength of these that the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, a body of Journalists of both Print and Electronic Media, whose head offices are outside Ebonyi State, religiously observes this important event annually.

“The Chapel leadership, after a critical review of the performances of members, applauded them for being good ambassadors and called on them to continue to adhere strictly to the ethics of the Journalism profession in the discharge of their lawful duties, especially as the 2023 general elections is around the corner. Correspondents should shun fake news and ensure that they crosschecked facts always; bearing in mind the critical role we play in the society.

“The Chapel also seizes this opportunity to call on the law enforcement agents in the State to always see journalists as friends, and desist from harassing and/or assaulting them while discharging their lawful duties.

“Security agents should know that Journalists, like other citizens of Nigeria, deserve protection, not molestation, from them. We urge that internal mechanism for discipline in NUJ be explored whenever any journalist is found wanting.

“We wish to specifically acknowledge the robust cordial relationship that has existed between Journalists and the Ebonyi State government led by Governor David Umahi, and therefore commend very highly, the Governor for creating the enabling environment for us to discharge our duties in the state.

“I want to assure the government and the good people of Ebonyi State, that Correspondents' Chapel of NUJ, Ebonyi State, under my leadership, would continue to be partners in the growth and development of Ebonyi State, through objective reportage,” Nwafor said.

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