Mr Ray Ekpu
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) governing council, Mr Ray Ekpu, has stated that most followers will do what is right if they perceive that their leaders as doing the right thing.
The veteran journalist said that nation-building is a joint venture, a partnership between those who rule and those who are ruled.
Read Also: ‘No Media, No Nation’ – Fayemi Urges Media To Hold Govt…
Mr Ekpu also lamented that in recent times, the country has remained a stranger to peace, security and to safety.
He disclosed this on Monday, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) 60th convocation lecture, which was titled “Media, Security and Nation Building”.
“For the past 11 years, our country has been harassed by Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herders and other assorted criminals. Our media have focused attention like a laser beam on these incidents because it is their responsibility to do so as prescribed by the Constitution of Nigeria.
“Our governments at various levels have done their best according to their abilities but our country remains a stranger to peace, a stranger to security and a stranger to safety.
“Our security personnel have also put in their best according to their abilities but we remain a people harassed every day, a people kidnapped every day and a people killed every day.
“From the foregoing, we can confirm that we are a nation in serious crisis, a nation in need of redemption, a nation that needs to be brought back from the brinks, a nation in need of rebuilding. Building a nation is a joint venture, a partnership, a coalition, an alliance between those who rule and those who are ruled.
“Both of them have to determine what kind of nation they want to build. In that task, the leader has the responsibility to lead the way passionately, effectively, and fairly in whatever they do and say. Whatever they do, whatever they say, will be the ultimate guide for their followers.
“In order words, both the rulers and the ruled must sing from the same hymn book for a nation where fairness, justice and equity must reign supreme to exist. Most followers will do what is right if they perceive that their leaders have all the equipment for the enforcement of rights, for the improvement of societal welfare, for the protection of lives and property as doing what is right. Leaders must set good examples with words and actions and with their acts of omission or commission.
Pointing out the problems hindering Nigeria from growing in a series of questions, Mr Ekpu said that the nation of our dreams should be far better than the one we have today.
He said, “So the crucial question is: what sort of nation do we want to build? I have no answer to give you. I only have questions to pose. Do we want a nation where equality, fairness and justice will reign supreme or one in which injustice, unfairness, nepotism, parochialism, favouritism will be the order of the day?
“Do we want a nation where security men will shoot and kill defenceless, unarmed and peaceful citizens sitting on the floor, singing the country’s national anthem and holding the country’s national flag?
“Do we want a nation where we can seek to collect land belonging to private individuals and state governments and give it free to private businessmen called herders? Do we want a nation where people can rape, kill and dispossess people of their farms because they need land for their cattle and they go scot-free?
“Do we want a nation where we can establish railway lines leading to neighbouring countries while neglecting the major arteries of our economy within our country? Do we want a nation where some students from some parts of the country can gain admission into our tertiary institutions with a score of 100 while students with a score of 300 cannot gain admission into those institutions?
“Do we want a nation where the leaders would set up a 4 committee to find solutions to an existential problem but allow the report of that committee to gather cobwebs somewhere, unattended to? Do we want a nation where the regulator of electronic broadcasting would prohibit journalists from publishing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Do we want a nation where some leaders would advocate amnesty for kidnappers, killers and murderers while we send petty thieves to jail?
“Do we want a nation in which someone who came fourth in an election would be promoted to the first position and sworn in as a ruler of a state? Do we want a nation where killers and kidnappers are paid ransom from the taxpayers’ fund while retirees are being owed pension and gratuity for years?
“Do we want a nation where a small clique of political and bureaucratic elite hold the nation by the jugular and run it aground with their discriminatory, parochial and nepotistic policies? Do we want a nation in which monkey dey work and baboon dey chop?
“The choice is ours. But I am sure that the nation we want, the nation of our dreams, ought to be better, far better than the one we have today.”
The NIJ VP further urged the media to hold the various governments accountable to the people, in order to achieve the country of our dreams.
“We in the media must strive to discharge that responsibility professionally and ethically, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
“That is a sacred responsibility that we cannot and must not run away from. It is a sacred duty that we owe to ourselves and to our fatherland. It is a sacred responsibility that we owe to posterity, to generations yet unborn. It is a sacred responsibility that we must discharge faithfully,” he said.
You May Also Like: ‘All State Governor Are In Support Of Policing At Local Levels’ – Fayemi
Click to watch our video of the week:
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Mr Ray Ekpu has stated that most followers will what is right if they perceive that their leaders are doing what is right
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Vice-chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) governing council, Mr Ray Ekpu, has stated that most followers will do what is right if they perceive that their leaders as doing the right thing.
The veteran journalist said that nation-building is a joint venture, a partnership between those who rule and those who are ruled.
Read Also: ‘No Media, No Nation’ – Fayemi Urges Media To Hold Govt…
Mr Ekpu also lamented that in recent times, the country has remained a stranger to peace, security and to safety.
He disclosed this on Monday, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) 60th convocation lecture, which was titled “Media, Security and Nation Building”.
“For the past 11 years, our country has been harassed by Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herders and other assorted criminals. Our media have focused attention like a laser beam on these incidents because it is their responsibility to do so as prescribed by the Constitution of Nigeria.
“Our governments at various levels have done their best according to their abilities but our country remains a stranger to peace, a stranger to security and a stranger to safety.
“Our security personnel have also put in their best according to their abilities but we remain a people harassed every day, a people kidnapped every day and a people killed every day.
“From the foregoing, we can confirm that we are a nation in serious crisis, a nation in need of redemption, a nation that needs to be brought back from the brinks, a nation in need of rebuilding. Building a nation is a joint venture, a partnership, a coalition, an alliance between those who rule and those who are ruled.
“Both of them have to determine what kind of nation they want to build. In that task, the leader has the responsibility to lead the way passionately, effectively, and fairly in whatever they do and say. Whatever they do, whatever they say, will be the ultimate guide for their followers.
“In order words, both the rulers and the ruled must sing from the same hymn book for a nation where fairness, justice and equity must reign supreme to exist. Most followers will do what is right if they perceive that their leaders have all the equipment for the enforcement of rights, for the improvement of societal welfare, for the protection of lives and property as doing what is right. Leaders must set good examples with words and actions and with their acts of omission or commission.
Pointing out the problems hindering Nigeria from growing in a series of questions, Mr Ekpu said that the nation of our dreams should be far better than the one we have today.
He said, “So the crucial question is: what sort of nation do we want to build? I have no answer to give you. I only have questions to pose. Do we want a nation where equality, fairness and justice will reign supreme or one in which injustice, unfairness, nepotism, parochialism, favouritism will be the order of the day?
“Do we want a nation where security men will shoot and kill defenceless, unarmed and peaceful citizens sitting on the floor, singing the country’s national anthem and holding the country’s national flag?
“Do we want a nation where we can seek to collect land belonging to private individuals and state governments and give it free to private businessmen called herders? Do we want a nation where people can rape, kill and dispossess people of their farms because they need land for their cattle and they go scot-free?
“Do we want a nation where we can establish railway lines leading to neighbouring countries while neglecting the major arteries of our economy within our country? Do we want a nation where some students from some parts of the country can gain admission into our tertiary institutions with a score of 100 while students with a score of 300 cannot gain admission into those institutions?
“Do we want a nation where the leaders would set up a 4 committee to find solutions to an existential problem but allow the report of that committee to gather cobwebs somewhere, unattended to? Do we want a nation where the regulator of electronic broadcasting would prohibit journalists from publishing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Do we want a nation where some leaders would advocate amnesty for kidnappers, killers and murderers while we send petty thieves to jail?
“Do we want a nation in which someone who came fourth in an election would be promoted to the first position and sworn in as a ruler of a state? Do we want a nation where killers and kidnappers are paid ransom from the taxpayers’ fund while retirees are being owed pension and gratuity for years?
“Do we want a nation where a small clique of political and bureaucratic elite hold the nation by the jugular and run it aground with their discriminatory, parochial and nepotistic policies? Do we want a nation in which monkey dey work and baboon dey chop?
“The choice is ours. But I am sure that the nation we want, the nation of our dreams, ought to be better, far better than the one we have today.”
The NIJ VP further urged the media to hold the various governments accountable to the people, in order to achieve the country of our dreams.
“We in the media must strive to discharge that responsibility professionally and ethically, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
“That is a sacred responsibility that we cannot and must not run away from. It is a sacred duty that we owe to ourselves and to our fatherland. It is a sacred responsibility that we owe to posterity, to generations yet unborn. It is a sacred responsibility that we must discharge faithfully,” he said.
You May Also Like: ‘All State Governor Are In Support Of Policing At Local Levels’ – Fayemi
Click to watch our video of the week:
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