…as Ekiti NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel holds 2026 annual lecture and awards presentation
Sola Popoola
Journalists have been charged to be courageous and remain independent in defence of democratic values by holding Nigerian leaders accountable .
The media was also cautioned against bring used or manipulated by the powerful politicians .
A former member of the Red Chamber,Senator Ayo Arise gave this admonition while delivering the annual lecture organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State council themed: “Internal Party Democracy, Good Governance, The Media and the future of Nigeria democracy”.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain said the media remained a critical pillar of the democratic process because of its responsibility to inform citizens, scrutinise those in power and create platforms for public discussion.
Sen Arise used the occasion to salute the various reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ,stressing that Mr President was gradually fixing the ailing economy .
The APC chieftain also thanked President Tinubu for proffering long lasting solutions to the myriads problems confronting Nigeria as a country.
Specifically ,Arise commended Tinubu for introducing concrete technology in solving the menace of bad roads across the country ,among other interventions .
He said the survival and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria would depend not only on the conduct of elections but also on the ability of the media to perform its watchdog responsibilities without fear, favour or political manipulation.
According to him, Nigerian media must remain independent, professional and courageous in defending democracy, holding public officials accountable and providing citizens with credible information.
Arise also cautioned against the use of the media as a tool for political manipulation, stressing that journalists must maintain professional independence even when reporting issues involving powerful political actors.
He posited that journalists must be able to investigate issues of public interest while maintaining the ethical and professional standards expected of a profession with enormous influence over society.
He stressed that journalism should be driven by the public interest, urging practitioners to inform rather than deliberately mislead, investigate rather than persecute and question power without becoming an instrument of political manipulation.
“The media must remain independent, professional and courageous. Journalists should be able to investigate matters of public interest while maintaining the standards expected of a profession that carries enormous influence. Citizens also have responsibilities.
“Political parties should begin by taking their own constitutions and guidelines seriously. Party rules should not exist only on paper. Membership registers should be credible. Ward, local government, state, and national structures should function properly. Primary elections should be transparent. Members should understand not only how to win elections but why democratic institutions matter.
“The future of Nigerian democracy depends on more than the regular conduct of elections. It depends on the quality of political parties, the effectiveness of government, the independence and professionalism of the media and the willingness of citizens to participate responsibly. Internal party democracy is particularly important because political parties serve as the gateway through which many political leaders enter public office.
“If democratic principles are absent from political parties, it becomes difficult to expect them to flourish in government. Good governance gives democracy practical meaning. Citizens should be able to see the benefits of democratic government in their daily lives. They should feel that public institutions belong to them and that government listens to them.
“The media must continue to perform its watchdog role, but it must also recognize the power that comes with that responsibility. Journalism should inform rather than deliberately mislead, investigate rather than persecute and question power without becoming an instrument of political manipulation.
“Citizens, too, must accept their part of the responsibility. We cannot demand good democracy while selling our votes. We cannot demand responsible politicians while rewarding political opportunism. We cannot demand truthful journalism while sharing unverified stories simply because they favour our political side.
“Democracy requires citizens who are prepared to defend its principles even when those principles do not produce the outcome they personally desire. There is an old democratic principle that government should be government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“For Nigeria, the challenge is to ensure that these words are not simply repeated at conferences and political gatherings but become part of our political practice. The question before us is therefore not whether Nigeria will continue to hold elections.
“Regardless of the shortcomings and challenges, democracy remains the most viable option when it comes to our system of governance. Democracy does not promise perfection but is surely a system that gives room to adjustments, improvements and eternal vigilance from citizens and the media. Our future for excellence would certainly be modelled by adherence to democratic tenets as controlled by the rule of law”.
Speaking in the same vein ,the Planter Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo Grace Of Mercy Prayer Mountain World-wide Prophet Sam Olu Alo urged the journalists to continue in their efforts to contribute positively to society, assuring them of his continued goodwill and support.
Olu- Alo,the founder of Adamimogo Media Conglomerate , represented by Deji Ogunbusuyi reaffirmed his support for the media and journalists.
Olu-Alo had consistently supported journalists because of his appreciation of the work they do in society.
He said the cleric had, from the beginning of his relationship with members of the media, offered them support, advice and prayers for success in their careers.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ekiti NUJ, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, commended Arise for accepting the invitation to speak at the event, describing his period as a senator as a significant era in legislative development in the state.
Babatuyi said Arise had continued to support journalists and journalism even after leaving political office, noting that his contributions to the profession extended beyond his time in the Senate.
He said the event was also an opportunity to remind society and government that journalism was much more than the mere gathering of information.
Comrade Babatuyi called on government to give journalists better remuneration, welfare and working resources, stressing that the profession required adequate support to effectively discharge its responsibilities to society.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Raphael Ogbonnaiye, said the event was important because it provided an opportunity to understand developments and challenges affecting society and discuss ways of addressing them.
Ogbonnaiye also used the occasion to solicit greater support for journalists, saying adequate support and resources were necessary for journalists to perform their duties effectively and contribute to correcting societal ills.
He emphasised that journalists required the necessary working environment and tools to properly carry out their responsibility of informing the public and contributing to the development of society.
Another important highlight of the event was presentation of awards of excellence to three distinguished individuals which include Senator Ayo Arise as icon of democracy, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Yinka Oyebode as Champion of Media Excellence and State’s Commissioner of Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun as Distinguished Information Manager of the Year.
In his response, Yinka Oyebode, represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola commended the Correspondents’ Chapel for its contributions to the development of the state and its coverage of government activities.
Oyebode described the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel as an important stakeholder in Ekiti, particularly in the areas of development reporting and the articulation and communication of government policies to the people.
He commended members of the Chapel for their role in publicising the activities and achievements of the state government, particularly during the recently concluded June 20 gubernatorial election.
According to him, the journalists had helped to make the achievements of the Governor known to the public through their reportage.