By Francis Sadhere, Warri
The Centre For Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) on Tuesday called on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media to always protect public interest against malpractice and also create public awareness.
Chief Executive Officer/Coordinataor, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade made this call yesterday during it’s annual Conference of the Media and Civil Society Advocacy with the theme, “Role of CSOs and the Media in the Promotion of Sustainable Environment in the Niger Delta.”
Comrade Mulade in his welcome address said the theme of the conference reflects growing recognition of the media, its indispensable role and the contributions of non-Governmental organizations to the sustenance of democracy in a country of over 180 million people.
He added that he was amazed at the advancement the country has witnessed in the media for the past few years, recalling how the media was being bastardise right, left and front.
“The truth however remains that the media of today is playing an outstanding role in creating and shaping of public opinion and strengthening of society. Every enlighten Nigerian must agree with me that the media is the sword arm of democracy. It acts as the watch dog to protect public interest against malpractice and create public awareness.
“As the fourth pillar of democracy along with judiciary, executive and legislature, media of today has an all-embracing role to act against oppression misdeeds and practicality of our society. Media helps in fighting against corruption, nepotism, and favoritism of institutional machinery. The media does this by carrying out a relentless campaign against such vices,” Comrade Mulade said.
Comrade Mulade said the media in Nigeria, as in other democratic countries, can never be separated from the country’s long walk to democracy, noting that throughout the terrible years of military dictatorship followed by the democratically elected leadership of then Olusegun Obasanjo administration the media, just like the biblical voice in the wilderness has continued to cry out on the need to exist in a country where the people are able to elect the leaders of their choice in a free and fair manner.
“More than anything else, the media in Nigeria is expected to be agents of development. According to section 22 of the Nigerian constitution, the media are expected to monitor and hold government accountable. The question we are probably here to answer this day is how far our media are fulfilling these hopes and expectations.
“Civil society and the media are playing key oversight role in the defense and sustenance of our fledgling democracy. This is why it is most appropriate to promote an enabling environment for civil society and media initiatives such as dialogues at various levels designed to foster cooperation and trust between the non government civil societies and the media should be encouraged,” Mulade said.
Mulade added that Civil societies and the media, no doubt, have a critical role to play in building a culture of integrity in a volatile country such as Nigeria, but however stressed that civil society’s organizations in the country are seriously threatened by a contentions regulatory bill on Non-governmental Organizations.
He said the bill which has passed the first and second readings is currently at the committee stage.
“The question is why is the bill generating controversy and why do critical stakeholders in CSOs want it dead? This question and indeed others would be answered in this conference. Permit me to pose these questions? Are there any merits in the bill? Is the National Assembly accusing Nigeria’s voluntary sector of being a den of crooks in need of proper policing?” Mulade fumed.
Presenting the lead paper an environment expert and university Don, Prof. Daniel Olorunfemi said the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the society play critical role with the promotion of a sustainable environment in our society.
He said that for the millennium development goals on environment to be achieved, CSOs and the media have a very important role to play, noting governments across the world have failed to protect the environment.
Prof Olorunfemi who was a guest speaker at the Annual Conference of the Media and Civil Societies Advocacy held at the Africa for Peace Centre organized by the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in Warri, Delta state, said the role of CSOs and the media in sustaining the environment cannot be overemphasized.
Prof Olorunfemi who delivered the paper with the theme “The Role of CSOs and Media in the Promotion of Sustainable Environment in Niger Delta” stressed that it is only the CSOs and the media that can advocate for the environment as government policies on environment are often time not implemented.
He noted that one of the reasons why Nigeria and Africa are backward in terms of sustainable environment is because the government has abandoned CSOs and the Media in matters that relates to environment.
He lamented that in spite of progress made in other parts of the world on access to clean and affordable drinking water, access to safe affordable water and sanitation in Nigeria still remains a serous challenge.
Representative of the Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Mrs Oteheri Akinruntan who spoke at the conference commended CEPEJ for the conference adding that the media had done a lot in ensuring that the government of the day is held accountable to the people.
She said PIND try to support CSOs to ensure that the Niger Delta region is reported positively as they expect to see a society where there is peace and development, adding that they were ready to partner with any organization that will project Niger Delta.
On his part, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Delta state chapter, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu in his goodwill message called for robust partnership between the media and CSOs in the country.
Others who spoke at the conference are: chairman, NUJ Warri Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuare, representative of the Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta, Lilian Nwokobia, amongst others.
