Press Freedom Should Be Respected –Fayemi

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Thursday evening at a dinner organised by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye said the freedom of the press should be respected in spite of noticeable inadequacies.

TheEagleOnline reports that the dinner was organised by Ajakaiye to honour members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council.

The governor said no matter the excesses being exhibited by the press, under no guise should its freedom be abridged or tinkered with.

Fayemi said that the role of journalists in the struggle for independence and democracy could not be overemphasised.

“In the fight for our independence and the sustained agitations against the military for the journey to Nigeria’s democracy, journalists played prominent roles, even at the risk of their lives and jobs.

“The press stands for the people. It is the voice of the voiceless, though you may have some things that appear so terrifying now that we have social media because of lack of control.

“But you still have to go to the mainstream journalism to confirm because they have control and gatekeepers, who can be held accountable.

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“Even if there are excesses, the freedom of the press should not be restrained. We should look for other ways to correct these perceived inadequacies,” he said.

Ajakaiye in his remarks charged the governor to look inwards and bring a successor that could sustain and consolidate the gains of democracy for Ekiti State citizens after his departure.

The cleric, who is also a journalist, said: “Don’t leave politics for those who do things the old ways.

“Politics is not a dirty game but we have dirty people in it. I will call governor Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, to come and face us after leaving office and I plead with them not to leave politics for those who love to do things the old ways.

“I have also told him to give us a good successor because success without a good successor is a failure in reality,” he said.

Ajakaye described the dinner attended by journalists, political appointees, heads of security formations and higher institutions in Ekiti State as a way of recognising newsmen for their roles in building a Nigerian society all could be proud of.

While responding, the NUJ chairman applauded the Bishop for his immeasurable love for journalists operating in the state.

Ojomoyela assured that his colleagues would continue to exhibit and promote those ideas that would add value to journalism practice.