Zamfara ALGON chairman urges media to be fair and honest in reporting

The association of local governments in Nigeria (ALGON) Zamfara state chapter has called on the entire working journalist across the country to exhibit honesty and fairness in the discharge of their civic responsibilities as they are there to serve everybody irrespective of political and religious inclination.

They should also focus on anything that will ensure the unity and oneness of the country Nigeria and avoid sensational reports with a
view to avoiding a crisis that may eventually divide the nation and its people. Chairman of the chapter of the state Alhaji Bello Dankande Ganji made the call while speaking to the Guardian in Gusau, capital of the state during the week.

He said as far as the public is concerned, journalism is all about bringing peace among the people and educating them on how to live in
peace with one another.

According to Gamji, who is also the chairman of Bakura local government, journalists anywhere in the world are the prime movers of peace and anything contrary is unethical.

The ALGON boss also explained that as no government at all level can move or work without journalist, the need for them to be just and fair is paramount. “we believe that journalists are the ingredient used to move or enlighten any government on what it is supposed to do or not to do to its people, and that is why knowing fully their importance and the role they play, we deem it fit to appeal to them to always cross-check their whatever stories before going to press.

We are assuring them of our support and cooperation. We want to partner with them so that we can collectively achieve the desired goals.”

According to him, it is unethical for a journalist to take side while carrying out his constitutional and journalistic assignment. “we want the press men to always give fair hearing all parties they may come across so that people will not put the blame on them of being one sided. And to us as government, we are ready to leave all our doors and windows opened to any journalist who may want to find one thing or another from us, because we don’t hide anything, we are for the people, and therefore we will not run or hide anything that is meant for public,” he added.

On the recent outbreak of meningitis that claimed several lives in the state, Dan Kande described the tragedy as an act of God, even as he commended the state government for its quick intervention. “the issue of CMS has come and gone, but actually it was painful. In this respect, I would like to express our gratitude to Almighty for giving the governor of the state the focus and courage to seriously face the problem up to its end, actually, government had done its best toward addressing the CMS problem”