Desist From Celebrating Terrorism, Maku Tells African Journalists

The minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku has called on African Journalists to desist from celebrating terrorism by reporting extensively the act of terrorism which end up displaying terrorists as icons that should be celebrated.

Maku who was speaking during the 8th Ordinary Congress of the West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA) stated that though freedom of speech should be encouraged in Africa, it should not be extended to terrorists who he said aimed to destroy the society.

“I have found that terrorists seek publicity more than politicians that seek for election. Without the free media they get, I tell you they will be demoralise. Stop reporting any terrorism attack for two months and they will go down. Freedom of Press should not be extended to those who bring about the language of hate that destroy the society,” he said.

He also urged them to begin the sensitization of their various countries on the fact that the issue of terrorism if not contended, might spread to other countries in the continent and issued a wakeup call for journalists to stand up to terrorism and mass education against terrorism.

Maku decried the cases where owners of the media have become strong political actors, who have set up those media to propagate their own view and that of their political parties and called for a strong media ombus man that is able to warranty press practitioner freedom from media owners.

The minister who proposed for well-trained professionals in the media stated that it would help to deal with security challenges and exploitation adding that the continent needed strong, professional and courageous media in other to give the people the voice they needed.

Also speaking, the President of the association Muhammed Garbar while expressing importance of the freedom of speech and security of journalists, stated that the association challenges include funding and added that it has successfully acquired N2.5 million dollars grants from the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) to aid in building capacity of members in the association.

Garbar who is also the president of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and President of Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) also revealed that the association has supported about 60 journalists in distress adding that it has signed and secured a 3 years 270, 000 Euros support grant from Norway ministry of Women Affairs to aid training of women journalist in West Africa.

Source http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/desist-celebrating-terrorism-maku-tells-african-journalists