As the 2023 general elections draw near, media practitioners have been enjoined to give equal opportunities to all political parties and eschew partisanship and in order to maintain their credibility.
This was the thrust of the keynote address by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, who was represented by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Oyo State Director of Voters Education, Mrs Rosemary Alaba-Adeniyi during the press week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Chapel in Ibadan.
While delivering Barrister Agboke’s address on the theme: “2023 Elections: Role of Media in Addressing Voter Apathy”, Alaba-Adeniyi described voter apathy as lack of interest among voters in the election of representative democracy.
“Voter apathy or lack of interest is often cited as the cause of low turn out among eligible voters in jurisdiction where voting is optional and bulky vote where voting is compulsory.
“Factors responsible for voter apathy include annihilation and security concerns among others.” she stated.
Alaba-Adeniyi stated that the media plays major roles in keeping the citizenry abreast of current events and raising awareness on current issues in the society, stressing that the media shapes public views and way of thinking at all times.
“The task of the media especially national media outlets is not and should not be to function as a mouthpiece for any government body or particular candidate. It’
S basic role is to enlighten and educate the public and act as a neutral objective platform.
Earlier at the event, the chairman of the day, Dr Festus Adedayo in his speech put the blame for voters apathy on the long military interruption in the democratic rule of Nigeria.
“Out of our 62 years of independence, we have only had democratic dispensation for just two decades and as such we are ruled by our understanding of what governance and democracy must be.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerians still see democratic politics as alien and we have not mastered its intricacies. That’s why perhaps people still believe that someday there will be a military coup and as such that is what will reordered the political firmament, but I can tell you as everybody knows that military rule is going out of fashion and that’s why you find many of your generals who have built up their campaigns and they are battling to become senators. Democracy have come to stay.” Adedayo stated.
The NUJ Chairman in Oyo State, Comrade Ademola Babalola, who graced the event with his executive members, urged journalists and other media practitioners to safeguard their lives, stressing that media employers should take staff welfare as a priority.
Also former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi charged media professionals to always maintain credibility and should not be identified with a candidate or political party.
An elder statesman, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem popularly called Sukazeem also called on clerics in both churches and mosques including including traditional rulers to always preach to their followers to eschew violence and embrace good behavior all the time.
Meanwhile the BCOS NUJ Chairman, Comrade Dupe Fehintola in his welcome address charged all journalists to focus attention on various aspects of the nation’s political development, especially as processes leading to the 2023 elections gather steam.
Dignitaries at the event include the General Manager, BCOS, Pastor Tunde Ajayi; Director of News, Mrs Adeola Adedotun; Director of Current Affairs, Mr Ademola Adeniyi among others.