The Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Samson Shaibu, has advised against enthronement of mediocrity in the country under the guise of maintaining a federal character policy.

Speaking during the National Programme Planning Conference of FRCN in Ilorin on Wednesday, the DG advocated that leadership and appointments should be based on merit rather than primordial considerations as religion and tribe, stressing that merit should also not be sacrificed for federal character.

“I believe in federal character but it is not an avenue for the enthronement of mediocrity in our system,” he said.

He canvassed accommodation of different and opposing views in democracy, submitting that the six geo-political zones in the country possessed gifts with great potential.

Shaibu urged media organisations to always create and encourage programmes that would promote national unity, peace, harmonious co-existence and other values that promote nationhood and brotherhood in the country.

According to him, many Nigerians are not interested in anarchy rooted in religion or tribalism, saying only few political elite benefit from violence.

He identified the media as strategic partners in national development and the sustenance of democracy.

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said merit should be encouraged and promoted in the country.