Fayose to journalists: Help sustain democracy

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said journalists have the duty of helping to sustain democracy in the country by reporting the truth and not‎ helping politicians to smear their opponents by spreading falsehood about them.
He also said journalists must not turn themselves to politicians while performing their duties, as that will not only shortchange the society, but mislead the people who rely on them for information.
He spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti during a parley with journalists.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Idowu Adelusi, , he quoted the governor as saying that feeding the people with misleading information would do more harm to the society at large than not feeding the‎m with any information at all.
“The importance of the media and media practitioners to the growth of democracy and ‎the development of democracy cannot be over-emphasised, but a situation whereby journalists descend to political arena and begin to feed the people with biased and false information is uncalled for.
“Also, it is not good when journalists allow themselves to be used by politicians to smear and demonise political opponents. Those occupying public offices must be put on their toes, however, doing that does not require spreading falsehood about them or doing a hatchet’s job,” he said.
Fayose said engaging in unethical practices ‎would only lead to journalists losing credibility in the end when found out.
He appealed to them to always let the ethics of their profession and their conscience guide them in the discharge of their duties.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, urged journalists to engage in developmental journalism, saying there were many good things to report about the state and the country at large.
He appreciated journalists in the state for their support for the government and called on them to do more.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Laolu Omosilade, comme‎nded the state government for its support for journalists and promised a better relationship in the new year.