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.

Abdulrosheed Okiki     Olatomiwa Williams     Lola Olabayo     Pius Abioje     KWAFFA     Roheemat Hammed     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Habeeb Saidu     Odo-Owa     Umar Gunu     MMWG     Arandun     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Khairat Gwadabe     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Tunji Oyawoye     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Ilesha-Gwanara     Lateef Fagbemi     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Mohammed Saidu     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Rex Olawoye     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     Ganiyu Abolarin     JUSUN     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Suleiman Mora Omar     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Sam Onile     Samari     Ilorin Curfew     Kwasu     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Prince Bola Ajibola     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Kwara Liberation Group     Iyeru Grammar School     Paul Olawoore     TESCOM 2025     Lucky Omoluwa     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Taofeeq Olateju     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Dele Momodu     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Kwara State Sports Commission     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Isiaka Yusuf     Muhammadu Buhari     Abdulkarim Adisa     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Sidikat Akaje     Edu     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Mujtabah Bature     Teachers Specific Allowance     Bayo Onimago     Atunwa     Micheal Imoudu     Baboko Primary School     Budo-Egba     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Raheem Adaramaja     TIIDELab     REO CAKES     Al-Hikmah Radio     National Information Technology Development Agency     Azeez Bello     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Baba Issa Awoye     Simon Sayomi     Alaro     Balogin Alanamu     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

James Kolo     Funke Adedoyin     Harmony Holdings     Democracy Day     Idofin     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     Goodluck Jonathan     Yaman     Student Learning Support Helpline     Onilorin Of Ilorin     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Fatimat Saliu     Ndama Al-hassan     2023 Elections     Femi Gbajabiamila     TIIDELab     Alimi     University Road     Akeem Olatunji     Pius Abioje     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Face Masks     Yusuf Ali     AbdulGafar Tosho     Kwasu     Ilorin Curfew     Bayo Ajia     Okeose Christian Cementary     Bature Bello     Ladi Hassan     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Yakub Ali-Agan     Mahe Abdulkadir     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     TESCOM 2025     Alao Ayotunde     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     SSUCOEN     Bamidele Aluko     Henry Makinwa     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     ASKOMP     Edu     SGBN     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Oke-opin     Omotosho     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Shade Omoniyi     Okin Biscuit     Maigida Soludero Transit     Yetunde Balogun     Ijagbo     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Ronke Adeyemi     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Maimunat Oniyangi     Segun Ogunsola     Ayegbeni     Shehu Jimoh     Isapa     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Mashood Dauda     Suleiman Idris     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Alapado     Abdulkadir Orire     YAKOOYO     Offa Grammer School     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Abdullahi Biffo