The supervising Information Minister,
Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad has dispelled fears being over 2015 general elections and
its possible outcome, which has been largely rumour to create events capable of
leading to break-up of Nigeria, reports ITRealms.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening the
45th meeting of the National Council on Information with the theme “Strategic
Information Management for Credible and Peaceful Elections” he said that as
they supervise the political discourse leading to the general elections, they
should strive to eliminate hate speeches, violent languages and incitement to
violence in their programmes, news and commentaries to ensure peace and
national cohesion during and after the elections.
Confirming this to ITRealms, the
press secretary to Minister, Mr. Joseph Mutah quoted Dr. Muhammad as telling the
Council, comprising Information Commissioners, heads of media organisations,
and other stakeholders in the media, that 2015 general election is not about
war.
“As public information managers, we
must strive to build understanding, while dispelling misconceptions, suspicion,
and fear. The 2015 general elections are not about war, and Nigeria is
not about to break up. We are one country and will remain so after the 2015
elections,” Muhammad said.
The Information Minister who harped
on the need for balance, fairness and objectivity in news reportage, frowned at
interference by some owners of media houses in the operations of the media to
further their political interest and shut out the opposition.
“I am not oblivious of the maxim
that who pays the piper dictates the tune. This comes into bold relief on
occasions when some public information managers black out stories about
opponents of the government in power in the environment. Sometimes
state-run media decline to accepts adverts from the opposition, even when such
promotional materials are fully paid for”.
The Minister therefore called for
change of attitude among some media managers and strict adherence to the Code
of Conduct to guard against rancour and acrimony in the electioneering.
He also directed the National
Broadcasting Commission to sanction stations found infringing on the
Broadcasting Code.
“Public information managers must
also remain vigilant about attempts by some politicians to manipulate them.
Elections are not just about politicians. Elections also involve
crucial questions about our collective future, and in whose hands the electorate
would like to commit. It is important, therefore, that as we nurture our
democracy through periodic elections, we should attempt to steer political
discourse to issues that have potentially meaningful impact for the
electorate”.
He charged the Information Managers
to complement the Independent National Electoral Commission in voter education
to ensure the overall success of the elections.
In a message to the occasion, the
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega said security remained a challenge ahead
of the Commission preparatory to the general elections.
Represented by Dr. Chris Imoga,
National Commissioner Information and Voter Education Committee, the INEC
Chairman decried the situation whereby the Commission is being joined in court
cases instituted by aspirants claiming irregularities in the conduct of party
primaries and said political parties should always promote internal democracy
and spare the Commission from needless litigations.
The INEC Chairman hailed the success
recorded in the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards across the country,
and sought for collaboration of the media for the overall success of the
general elections.
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