Remarks by His Excellency the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the 2020 Press Week of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists

Date: 2020-11-04

Remarks by His Excellency the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the 2020 Press Week of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara State Council, on November 4, 2020 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Protocol

I begin this short remarks by fully aligning myself with patriots across Nigeria who have condemned the recent attacks on the media in different parts of the country especially during the recent ENDSARS protest. Nothing can justify violent attacks on anyone, much less the media which is doing a lot to not only deepen our democracy through its role as the watchdog of the society but to also ensure that we read balanced and verified accounts of events in an era of fake news, alternative truth, and 'cancel culture'.

It is on this note that I congratulate the Correspondents' Chapel on the occasion of its Annual Press Week 2020. I sincerely commend you for the good job you are doing for our society. Our administration will at all times act in favour of the media because of its robust contributions to our democracy and national security.

I believe that the guest lecturers are eminently qualified to do justice to the topic of discourse, which is the "Effectiveness of party supremacy in strengthening democratic principles and promoting national development."

My take, however, would be to further encourage the media to continue to uphold the ethics of the profession which include balance, fairness, and truth. I also urge you to remain committed to national cohesion and security. This adherence to the ethics of the noble profession is what sets you apart from 'emergency journalists' on the social media who have no regard for truth or balance.

Also, I urge the media to vigorously fight fake news. The events of the past few weeks have shown us the danger of fake news and unverified or one-sided accounts of events. We saw how fake news almost brought down our country as mobs descended on various public and private facilities. That the media was not spared in the melee underscores the fact that fake news and its purveyors constitute existential threats to everyone. There is therefore a need for all of us to face down this threat before it is too late.

Equally important is for the media to rise against the 'cancel culture' now spreading across the social media space. Suddenly, we are having an army of people who regard their own opinion as final on any issue. Anyone who disagrees with their opinion must be mobbed or taken down at all cost. This is akin to fascism and must be stopped before it is too late. Democracy recognises multiplicity of opinions and the right of every citizen to hold a contrary view without being haunted for it. I urge the media to join the campaign to discourage this new threat to democracy and free speech.

Once again, I congratulate the Correspondents' Chapel for this event and I thank you all for listening.

God bless you!

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Governor, Kwara State.

November 4, 2020.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Erin-ile     Quarry Royal Valley     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Ilesha-Gwanara     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Dele Momodu     Hakeem Idris     Olatunde Michaels     Elerin Of Adanla     Mohammed Yisa     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Kamoru Kadiri     Segun Olawoyin     Oloye     Hussein Olokooba     Aremu Odolaye     Ojuekun     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     AbdulHamid Adi     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Bello Bature     Kwara Polytechnic     Musa Yeketi     Ilorin General Hospital     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Olabode Towoju     Valsolar     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     Erubu     Yakubu Dogara     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Yahaya Seriki     Pakata Development Association     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Suleiman Abubakar     REO CAKES     Abubakar Usman Jos     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Wahab Issa     CUTI     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Universal Basic Education Commission     Durbar     ITP     Sardauna     Simeon Sayomi     New Nigeria People’s Party     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     NITDA     Nurudeen Muhammed     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Bankole Omisore     Kumbi Titilope     Offa     Split Diamond Interchange     John Obuh     Ayedun     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Kwara Central     Musa Alhassan Buge     Toyin Abdullahi     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Risikat Lawal     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Kisira     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Iponrin     Isiaka Oniwa     MMWG     Ilorin South     Ayegbeni    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Moji Makanjuola     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Ope Saraki     Musbau A. Akanji     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Kwara Pdp     Eleja     Aliyu Sabi     Ibrahim Gambari     Kaosarah Adeyi     NIPOGA     Saka Adeyemo     Share-Tsaragi     Voices Of Tomorrow     Ilorin Muslim Community     Abikan     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Oke-Oyi     Kola Olota     Edret Sabi Abel     KWASIEC     Saraki     Mohammed Abduraheem     Baaziki Sulaiman     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Popo-Igbonna     Saba Jibril     Jumoke F. Ajao     Kwara Poly     Erubu     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Moro     Donatus Ejidike     Yusuf Aiyedun     Kazeem Oladepo     Patience Jonathan     Abatemi-Usman     IFK     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Kwara State Governor     BECE     Oko Erin     Baba Issa     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Coronavirus     Sam Okaula     Oniwasi Agbaye     Split Diamond Interchange     Moses Salami     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Saka Abimbola Isau     CCT     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Amusa Bello     Kwara State Government     Crystal Corner Shops     Gwanara     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Valsolar Consortium     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Titus Ashaolu     Osinbajo     Idowu Laro     Shaaba Lafiagi     Olugbense     IYA ALFA NLA     Babs Iwarere     Kisra     Elelu     Babatunde Idiagbon