Monarch Decry Journalists Condition Of Service As PDP, APC Make Recommendations On Party Politicking

NICHOLAS UWERUNONYE

His Royal Majesty, HRM, Oba Mufutau Oloyede Gbadsmosi , the Oloffa of Offa, Kwara State, has made spirited calls to stakeholders in the media Industry to do something on the working conditions of Nigerian Journalists in practicing in the country, explaining that the media men are not well remunerated given the enomouse risks they undertake in doing their jobs. The traditional ruler made the call at the Press Week of the state correspondent chapel, at the NUJ Center, Ilorin.

The monarch, represented by Chief Mrs Wosilat McCarthy, the Boba selu of Offa, at the event which also had as guests and speakers, Yusuf Alli, SAN, a legal practitional of national and international repute, Harriett Oshatimehin, Commissioner for Information and representative of the the state governor, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak, leading party chairmen in the state, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, BOB, and Eng. Kola Shittu, state chairmen, All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, respectively.

Speaking on the plight of Journalists in the country, the monarch through his representative drew attention the rampant non-payment of salaries to journalists and where paid, they are usually meagre compared to their workloads and hazzards of the job.

"Journalists are not beggars, the nature of the work requires all hands to be on deck to assist them perform their chosen vocation.

"I am aware that many media houses no longer pay salaries to their staff, but these gentlemen stay glued to their work with passion, not minding the risk, insult and humiliation from people who know little or nothing about the nature of journalism work.

" I would not want to take much of your time talking about the importance of Journalism work but the fact that this is the only profession recognized in the constitution next to the three tiers of power as the fourth estate of the realm tells the entire story. 

"If journalists blank out the nation in just one day, I cannot imagine how dreadful it could be. On my own, I don’t underrate journalists, I see them as partners in the art of governance and nation building.

The Monarch further called attention to dangers of fake news pavading the social media. The oba made a point of stating that the Journalists still remain as the true mirror of the society and a window through which offshore observers see the country.

"This is because despite the hyperbole that exist in our society today about what is and what is not fake news today, journalism plays a significant role forming our identity as a people and as nation," the monarch said.

Speaking at the occassion of the Press Week, BOB, the APC chairman, drew participants attention to the state party politics in the country. Dwelling on the near absence of internal democracy and party supremacy in political parties, the party chair said that it is a collective effort and doesn't rest squarely on just politicians in the party. "What we are as individuals contribute immensely to what we bringvibto the party," the chairman said. Resounding to many underhand politicking by politicans which further undermines the sanctity of party politics as alleged in in earlier lecture by Alli SAN, the party chairman said that what ever is hatched by the politicians is taken to lawyers for perfection.

Responding to the issues, Eng. Shittu, the PDP chairman, said that there is need for parties to allow more intellectuals into their ranks. "The problems bedeviling the country requires special kind of thinkers. We need more intellect based political solutions to our problems," the PDP state party chairman said.