The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has been accused of being nepotistic in its approach to governance, just as alarm was raised on the threats posed by nepotism, ethnic chauvinism, religious intolerance and brazen disregard for the rule of law to Nigeria’s corporate existence.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike came out with this at the 3rd National Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Monday, June 7, 2021, at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt with theme: “The Media, Insecurity and National Unity”.

Represented by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, the Rivers State Governor decried a situation where all the heads of security agencies and critical national institutions were from a particular ethnic nationality to the exclusion of others.  

“How can we explain a situation where almost all the heads of security agencies as well as critical national institutions are headed by people from a particular ethnic nationality and religious faith, in a country which prides itself as a secular state and believes in federal character, when it comes to the appropriation of positions?”

He expressed his firm belief in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria but regretted that Nigeria’s unity was being threatened by self-destructive tendencies, asserting that the perceived actions and inactions of the Federal Government of Nigeria seems to be fanning these embers of disunity.

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He maintained that a situation where some sections of the country are treated as privileged groups while other sections are treated with disdain and impunity leaves much to be desired and must be quickly addressed to engender equilibrium and a sense of belonging to all.  

Wike reiterated that all policies and programmes of the Rivers State Government under his leadership were hinged on the principle of equity and justice for all, stressing his administration’s commitment to ensure total inclusivity and overall benefit of residents of the State, irrespective of clime or creed.

“Rivers State is hospitable to all as long as you are a law abiding and responsible citizen, you can aspire to the highest level you can attain, without discrimination and that is what we wish for in our beloved nation Nigeria.”

The Keynote Speaker and Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who saluted the courage of the Media, said “the history of our nationhood right from the time we started battling for our present democracy cannot be complete without a place of pride for the Nigeria Media,” calling on the Media to strive to promote national unity and not division.

Ikpeazu saluted great patriots like Dele Giwa and Chima Ubani who paid the supreme price towards building a nation called Nigeria, while advocating for “a society where the weak, the poor, the voiceless and everybody can aspire and speak what he wants to say and aspire to become, what he wants to become, irrespective of where he comes from, his religion or other primordial considerations”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who spoke through the Zonal Director, NTA Port Harcourt Network Centre, Bosede Adebayo, called for commitment from everybody, and every journalist to write for the oneness of Nigeria and also write and broadcast for the country’s peace, sustainability and development.

National President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo had earlier said the Union was hosting the conference in order to achieve a national consensus that would help facilitate Nigeria’s response to the growing wave of insecurity, noting that the defeat of terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities while attempting to achieve democratic stability requires the concentration of the mind, especially the invaluable role of the Media,

He called on the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to without delay reverse its decision to ban Twitter activities in the country which he said was completely at variance with democracy, which Nigeria had signed onto.

Highlight of the occasion was the induction of the State Chief Executive, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike into the NUJ Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievements in leadership and infrastructure development.

One of the keynote speakers and National President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mukhtar Sirajo, in presenting his paper, “Media, National Security and National Unity”, paid attention to the entailments of Mass Media while espousing the conceptual framework of the study to incorporate the Media, national security and national unity as ideological convergence points for Media practice.   

He berated the Media for being consumed by the socio-economic and political dynamics, arguing that the Media ought to be an agenda setter and change agent that should point the way forward and be on top of narratives that advance societal cohesion, positive values and patriotism, enjoining Media practitioners to continue to adhere to “ethical and professional conducts”.   

Sirajo warned against amplifying invidious narratives as advanced by bandits, terrorists, and other disruptive elements in the society by over-reporting negative news and under-disseminating positive ones, noting that this was witnessed in the reportage of the IPOB agitation, #EndSARS protests, and Chibok Girls’ kidnap, amongst others, urging Media practitioners to place national interest above parochial interests.