Others • Created July 15, 2012 05:00

‘Do more in exposing us’ Ajimobi tasks journalists

Ajimobi made this known while speaking with journalists at the launch of two books written by a veteran journalist,  Alhaji Kola Animasaun. The books, Vice of Reason Volume II and 1939: an autobiography of Animasaun, were both launched at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. According to Ajimobi, though Nigeria is blessed with […]

‘Do more in exposing us’ Ajimobi tasks journalists
‘Do more in exposing us’ Ajimobi tasks journalists

Ajimobi made this known while speaking with journalists at the launch of two books written by a veteran journalist,  Alhaji Kola Animasaun. The books, Vice of Reason Volume II and 1939: an autobiography of Animasaun, were both launched at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

According to Ajimobi, though Nigeria is blessed with array of competent journalists yet the environment within which they operate has hindered their performance making it difficult for them to be relevant in the nation’s socio-political system.

“Nigerian journalists have a major role to play in the polity. In America, journalists do a lot in exposing and espousing the good governance. But in Nigeria, when a governor is accused to have stolen billions of naira, rather than being asked about his actions, the first question most journalists will first throw at him is: ‘Sir, you are looking good and well fed today,” Ajimobi said.

The governor said for Nigerian journalists to reach the same pedestal with their American counterparts, they will need to do more investigative journalism that will expose the rot in the nation’s polity. He, however, cautioned that in the discharge of that duty, the journalists must be professional and avoid sensationalism.

“Our journalists should be fearless. They need to carryout investigative journalism and not sensationalism. They must be professional in all they do,” Ajimobi said.

In his remark, the author of the two books, Alh. Kola Animasaun, who also marked his 73rd birth date, said there is need to do more to empower Nigerian journalists and help minimise the risks they are being exposed to.


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