Media practitioners have been admonished to avoid fake news, rumour mongering and sensational reportage in writing about conflicts among the people so as to help government in achieving peace in the Nigeria society.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Governor, Abdullahi Sule gave the charge while speaking seperately in Makurdi, during the grand finale of the 2019 Press Week Award Dinner Night organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State Council, Makurdi.
The two governors stated that the wrong use of social media and the growing fake news syndrome among the issues were threatening the existence of Nigeria as a great nation and urged journalists to desist from them.
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Represented by his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Dogo Shammah, Governor Sule said he understands the role of the media in the achievement and sustenance of peace in the society and therefore appealed to media men and women to be objective and exercise maximum restraint while reporting violence and conflicts among the people so that the presumably bad situation is not made worse.
He said his administration appreciates the honour accorded him by the award of Excellence in recognition of his modest efforts at entrenching peace between the people of Nasarawa State with their kin in Benue adding that he has a firm belief that without peace, no meaningful development or progress can be achieved.
Governor Sule who expressed humility thanked the NUJ Benue council for rewarding him for his modest success in Nasarawa State saying the award will further spur him to do more for the prevailing peaceful atmosphere existing between Nasarawa and Benue States.
On his part, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom who was also represented by his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi, said he appreciates the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State Council for the recognition and honour accorded him and his Nasarawa State counterpart.
Governor Ortom also acknowledged the tremendous support of journalists to his administration and that of Governor Sule in restoring peace between Benue and Nasarawa States and pledged to do everything possible to maintain peace in the state.