LAGOS – Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, Chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos branch, has urged journalists to be vigilant while performing their duties.
Olaoye-Osinkolu spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
the end of the congress of the association on Saturday.
She said that journalists should always be security conscious, especially during the 2015 general elections.
The chairman also advised journalists to be professional in their conduct and reportage on the elections.
She urged Nigerians to go out and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“People are not going out to collect their PVCs and they are blaming INEC,’’ she said.
Olaoye-Osinkolu urged everyone to play his or her part toward ensuring peaceful and successful elections in the country.
Also speaking, Alhaja Sekinat Lawal, of the Mirror Newspaper, warned politicians to avoid offensive speeches that could threaten the oneness of the country.
“The unity of this country is important before, during and after the elections.
“The various political parties should avoid overheating the polity unnecessarily,’’ she said.
Mrs Nosa Osula-Aituamen of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) advised journalists to avoid taking sides in both their reportage and comments.
Osula-Aituamen said that journalists should provide accurate and unbiased information on issues during the elections and not betray public trust.
“Journalists should not be partisan. Let us stay aside and allow the politicians do their thing,’’ she said.
Mrs Yemi Abdul, of Lagos State Ministry of Information also called on journalists to be security conscious.
Abdul advised parents to ensure that their children are not involved in any form of violence during the polls. (NAN)