Sen Enang Counsels Journalists, Politicians Not To Over-Heat 2027 Elections

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

Newly appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, Senator Ita Enang, has called for due diligence to be taken seriously by media professionals and politicians as the activities to 2027 general elections gears up.

Enang, a legal luminary, posited that having a sound knowledge of the letters of the electoral acts and other relevant laws of the land would make a journalist to write an objective and balanced reportage of activities leading up to the 2027 general elections, so also the politicians and their political parties.

Doing otherwise, will lead to unnecessary over heating of politics and creating confusions not worthy of the nation’s democracy.

He spoke during the Annual Dinner and Award Night/Unveiling of the Critique Magazine/Launching of the N15 million Solar Power facility by the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, in Uyo recently.

The Ambassador, who served as the chairman of the occasion, held at the Patience Eno Auditorium, NUJ Press Centre, Uyo, said that journalists in the state could build democracy and shape the Arise Agenda legacy of Pastor Umo Eno’s administration through positive reportage.

He added that throughout his 26 years of representation in the National Assembly, he worked tirelessly to align Akwa Ibom State with the Federal Government policies.

“In your reportage of politics and activities leading up to the 2027 electoral process, please read first the Electoral Act and its provisions.

“Let your reports or comments be aligned with the position of the law and according to the electoral laws of the land.

“Let every person have free access to the courts; let us jointly protect our democracy,” Ita Enang said, adding that he would not hesitate to head to the courts if he felt that certain provisions of the Electoral Act were breached,” Enang said.

He also added that “through our politics, our advocacy in our 26 years of political representation in the National Assembly, we aligned Akwa Ibom State with the Federal Government, to the extent that the state is not just talking about Arise Agenda now, but also talking about Arise With Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Senator Enang thanked the organisers of the event while noting that the theme of the event, “From Insight To Action: The Role Of The Media In Shaping The Arise Agenda Legacy” of the state government as apt.

In her remarks, the Coordinator of the Office of Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Mrs Helen Eno Obareki gave the score cards of her late mother’s pet project – Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) in the last two years of establishment.

‎She said that within the period, GIFA has expanded opportunities for women, supported vulnerable groups, and reinforcing a culture of care and inclusion.
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‎Lady Obareki, who was a Special Guest of Honour on the occasion, noted the role of the media in nation building through constructive, objective, and responsible reportage of policies and programmes of government as well as the society.

She added that the alignment between leadership and the media has strengthened public trust and enhanced the effectiveness of policies and programmes of government.

Mrs Obareki, who bagged the Award of Excellence by the Correspondents’ Chapel, commended the chapel for the award, saying that it would encourage her and the office of the First Lady to do more for the people of Akwa Ibom.

In his keynote address on the “Role of the Media in shaping the Arise Agenda Legacy in Akwa Ibom State”, Dr Emmanuel Abraham, said that the media as integral part of the ARISE Agenda, should transform it from a mere policy document into not only an inspiration but a life, lived, and living experiences for the government and the people of the state.

“By focusing on developmental journalism, the media should help to document and define a legacy centred on improved welfare, inclusive growth, and strategic development sustained through Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance, Security Management, and Educational/Health Advancement.

“The media’s role in the Agenda should own and emphasise the Renaissance and rebirth aspects of the agenda, signalling its can-do, must-do, and should-do spirits of the Akwa Ibom man,” he said.

Dr. Abraham, who is the Founder/Chairman, Board of Trustees, Topfaith Group of Schools and Topfaith University in the state, also urged the press to transform the agenda from the jargon to the real prosperity agenda for the people of Akwa Ibom State.

“Overall, journalism in the ARISE Agenda should not only inform, entertain and educate but should inspire,” Abraham said.

He also urged the media to engage in massive strategic public enlightenment; report to give meaning and substance to the government; interpret the ARISE Agenda policy framework and philosophy; propagate the positive narratives of the Agenda, including tangible achievements of the state government as well as feedback reporting; report accountability and transparency, and the citizens-government relationship.

According to him, the mainstream media can undertake prompt reporting of government and the private sector activities directly and indirectly derivable from the Agenda philosophy.

He said that such reports would checkmate “the negative effects of social media outbursts and the activities of content creators, bloggers, junk journalism, and the general free press.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Comrade Bassey Anthony who welcomed participants to the annual dinner and awards night, said that their presence underscored the high regard they had for the media as partners in progress, stressing that such would not be taken for granted.

The events also featured a dinner, presentation of awards to deserving individuals and organisations, the launching of the solar power project, and the unveiling of the 6th edition of the Critique Magazine published by the Correspondents’ Chapel.

He said that the event was part of the Correspondents’ Chapel’s annual programmes meant to appraise the activities of the Chapel as professionals who report from the state as well as strengthen the relationship between the chapel and government as well as other corporate organisations.