The Peoples’ Democratic Party Candidate in the 2023 General Election for Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje has called on media practitioners to strive towards enthroning good governance in Nigeria through their daily reportage.
Ukeje, stated this at the Micheal Okpara Auditorium Umuahia during the second edition of the Media Summit organised by the Abia State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, with the theme: “The Media: Roles And Challenges In Enthroning Good Governance In 2023”.
She noted that for democracy to truly thrive in Nigeria, a free and independent media must be attained adding that the major role of the media is responsible reportage and holding public office holders accountable.
The former three time House of Reps Member further explained that the media enthrones good governance by ensuring proper and right education of the people and called for an independent media that teaches citizens true responsibility in a democratic setting.
She said: “There can not be good governance without proper checks and balances. The media must rise up to play critical roles in other to build a better society as expected of them.
“As far as democracy is concerned, the independence of the media is attainable. When there is liberal democracy, there is freedom of the media”.
Ukeje however, identified poor renumeration of the media as a major reason for compromise and called for free press devoid of interference in the face of evolving democracies.
She insisted that the independence of the media should be given the utmost priority it deserves even as Nigeria strives in her democracy.
Ukeje while admitting that the rise of social media is a grave concern pointed out that social media gives rise to fake and unauthentic news.
