Rev. Mathew Odoh of the United Evangelical Church, Lokoja, has urged journalists to devote themselves to truth and the highest ethics of their profession, likening them to the biblical Moses who bridged the gap between God and the Israelites.
At a church service organized as part of the 2024 Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Week on Sunday, Rev. Odoh said: “Journalists are like middlemen. You are like the Biblical Moses. You hear from the people and relate to the government about our cries. You are standing between the government and people. Tell us rightly what the government is saying. Also, hear from us and tell them what we are saying and what our problems are.”
He added, “Presently, as citizens, we are hungry. We need light. The cost of electricity tariff is too high. We need jobs for our children. Let the government address issues around the economy and let us have money in our pockets. Nigerians are suffering.”
Rev. Odoh prayed for God to strengthen President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to do what is needful, pointing out that Nigerians are no longer finding the cost of living easy.
He said, “There is so much maladministration. We are not smiling. Let the government at all levels do what is needful. We beg you as journalists to tell the government that Nigerians are not smiling, they need a breath of fresh air.”
He described the journalism profession as one with great risks but expressed optimism that with professionalism and balanced reportage, the safety of journalists is guaranteed.
Rev. Odoh commended Kogi journalists for their sense of professionalism and unbiased reportage, pointing out that the only way democracy and a better society can thrive is when journalists operate in an enabling environment.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State chapter, Comrade Oluwasegun Oyenibi, said the church service was part of the NUJ 2024 Press Week geared towards thanking God for preservation and seeking His protection for members.
