By Godwin Otang
A Non-Governmental Organization, The Cross River Movement (TCRM), and media experts in the media space have sued for good governance and the protection of Nigerian journalists.
The call was made at the TCRM monthly interactive Twitter space stakeholder engagement, held on Sunday, October 8, 2023, tagged ‘the role of media in good governance: fourth estate for accountability’.
The call is coming as Nigerian media space is said to have been “bastardized” and consequently “compromised” by the political class, leaving practicing journalists with little or no protection.
The guest speaker, Channels Television’s Supervising Editor, Producer, and Presenter Nneota Egbe decried the compromised state of Nigeria media.
He prayed the Judiciary, the National Assembly, and Nigerians to make an effort to ensure Journalists are duly protected to do their job, especially to ask deep and pertinent questions.
Nneota said: “The Media space in Nigeria has been bastardized and compromised. In the United States, the media asks all the questions, but here, when Journalists ask questions, they are locked up, like in the case of Agba Jalingo and former Governor Ayade.
“The media is not exactly equipped to do their work. In Nigeria, there’s freedom of speech, but no part of the Nigerian Constitution protects Journalists from asking questions.”
Nneota added that “though there are laws regulating social media in Nigeria, the Judiciary, National Assembly and relevant authorities must wake up to ensure protection for Nigerian Journalists.
On his part, the Founder of TCRM Mr. Iso Bassey, affirmed the resolve of his organization to lead the course of good governance and breach the gap between the people and the government in the State.
The event was attended by stakeholders in the private and public sectors, lovers of good governance, and Cross Riverians.
Similarly, as the campaign for good and effective, continuous, and people-centered governance in Cross River State continues, TCRM has commenced a ministry-by-ministry advocacy campaign, familiarization, and interaction to chart forward the narrative.
The familiarization visits to government MDAs in the State have been led by Omojefe Kennedy Orezime, Program Manager of the organization, and other members of the TCRM team, on behalf of the Founder Mr. Iso Bassey.
The visits have covered ministries of commerce, aviation, mineral resources, and transport.
Others include the ministries of lands and tourism as well as with plans to meet with other MDs.