Niger Delta
Journalists Urged To Uphold National Interest In Reportage
Ahead of the February
national polls, a veteran journalist, Mr Dele Ailemen, has urged Nigerian journalists to put the nation’s interest first in their reportage during and after the elections.
Ailemen, a former chairman of the defunct Bendel State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said in Benin that the role of journalists in the elections was crucial to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in 2014 released a timetable for the elections with the Presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for February 14.
State Assemblies and governorship elections are to hold on February 28.
“People must come to the understanding that the idea of democracy will collapse, that the tree of democracy cannot survive if we do not allow the sunshine of press freedom to come in.
This means that journalists must see that first and foremost our responsibility is not to political parties, but to the nation.
“This is because the supreme interest of a politician is his own survival and not the survival of the media.
“I think our duty as members of the fourth estate of the realm is to see to the survival of the nation’’.
Ailemen, who is the coordinator of an NGO — Media and Political Forum – noted that the responsibilities imposed on the media were onerous.
“We have an obligation first and foremost to the media as an institution.
“Our responsibility is not loyalty to individual politicians or any political party,” he said.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
