By JOHNSON EBIGIDE
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has condemned in strong terms the unethical, unprofessional, sensational report credited to one journalists in the state purporting that Olorogun Gbagi, a governorship aspirant for the 2023 general elections in the state, had attacked the persons of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Governor Okowa, when he briefed the press in Asaba, the state capital.
In a statement signed by the Chairman and the Secretary of the council, Comrades Michael Ikeogwu and Patrick Ochei respectively, made available to journalists in the state, the union frowned at the sensational report, wondering where the reporter got what he reported against the gubernatorial aspirant.
The offending report had it that Gbagi called the new IGP a thief and that the governor of the state, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, lacked the industrial knowledge and competence to propel the industrial growth of the state.
The statement clarified that “Gbagi’s verbal comments and answers to questions asked him by journalists were simple and unambiguous. He eulogised Governor Okowa as an astute administrator who had laid down the solid foundation for him to build on as an industrialist, if elected the state governor in 2023.”
It added that “the only person Gbagi took to task was the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Hafiz Inuwa Mohammed, whom he accused of scheming to treat him as a common criminal over an alleged striping of some of his (Gbagi’s) staff naked in the state,” adding that he never mentioned the new IGP, who was being decorated in Abuja the same time the press briefing was being held in Asaba.
The statement warned journalists in the state to desist from such an unwholesome practice of maliciously and intentionally quoting people who had presented themselves for appraisals of their stock cards out of context, adding that the council would take drastic actions against such unbecoming attitude which, if not stemmed immediately, would paint the union in bad light and discourage people from granting audience and media interviews to journalists in the state.
It assured the general public that at the appropriate time, the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the union in the state would investigate the issue with a view to proffering the right actions against the offending journalist to serve as a deterrent to any journalist itching to run foul of the ethical foundation of Journalism.