Journalist-turned politician, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has charged practicing journalists in the country to be alive to their responsibility by discharging their constitutional roles without fear or favour to anyone, in order to move Nigeria forward.
Ojudu made the call on Monday while addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, at an event organised to introduce his newly published book titled, ‘The Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist’, to the public.
Ojudu, also a former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and one-time Senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, said the highest obligation any journalist owes his country and people was to seek the truth, write the truth, and report the truth at all times.
He also said he did not believe that some of the issues being clamoured by Nigerians, especially constitutional amendment, are the real solutions to the nation’s crisis.
“The real solutions to our myriads of problems are far from what are being suggested. For instance, constitutional review being suggested is not one of such solutions to Nigeria’s problem, it is simply all about us.
“In the course of performing your duties as a good journalist, tendencies are that you will be waylaid, harassed, intimidated, threatened and so on, and even excommunicated to exile, like i experienced many times. But those were not enough to draw me back, I remained resolute.
“Without a vibrant press, it will be difficult for a nation to get things right.
“Do not be dissuaded, because that was never me. I saw death face to face, but all that did not discourage me from forging ahead in performing my avowed duties to the nation,” he said.
Ojudu also admonished journalists to focus more on area of investigative reporting so as to unearth the evils perpetrated by certain leaders who always think they are above the law.
He said he was dedicating the 303-page book to the unwavering commitment of his colleagues, who valiantly fought for the democracy that is upheld in the country today.
“When i speak of my colleagues, I refer to every Nigerian journalist who discharged their duties with conscientious diligence, during the prolonged military rule in Nigeria.
“Some were incarcerated, many subjected to brutalization, others compelled to seek refuge in exile, and tragically, some perished in the struggle.”
On what inspired him to write the book, Ojudu said it was meant to chronicle his past endeavours.
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