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Support
Yar'Adua's Bid To Stop Electoral Fraud, Oshiomhole Tells
Nigerians
Comrade Adams Osiohmole has called on Nigeria to support
President Umar Yar'Adua in his bid to reform the
electoral process. The governor noted that Nigeria 's
inability to conduct a free and fair election is an
embarrassment to the country as small African countries
have been able to conduct better elections.
"Yar'Adua need the support of all so that rigging can be
stamped out. With this, those who want to rig would fail
in their bid.
Oshiomhole, who said this yesterday in Lagos at a forum
convened by Compass newspapers, also praised the media
for checkmating the arbitrary use power in the last
dispensation.
Oshiomhole called on the media to continue with the task
of making changes that will purify Nigeria especially in
the electoral process.
His words: "The role of the media is critical if our
democracy must survive. Democratic consolidation is
necessary. That is why the media must appreciate its
responsibilities. The media has a duty and role to
sanitize the democratic process. The media must help the
nation to perform the changes that will purify the
system especially in the electoral process."
He, however, said the media has lived up to the values
of the profession, adding that it has augured well for
the polity.
"The media helped in devastating the colonial order. And
it has been consistent in checkmating the arbitrary use
of power. The media helped in terminating third term.
This is a testimony of its seriousness in mobilizing
public opinion against high profile public scandals."
In the same vein, Ogun State gorvernor, Otunba Gbenga
Daniel, charged the media to remain objective and fair.
"The mass media must reappraise the conduct of its
members and ensure that its members abide by the
age-long traditions of fairness, objectivity and
neutrality. Where the media descends into the arena of
partisanship, it losses its moral ground to pronounce on
issues of the day," he stated.
Those at the event included: Uncle Sam Amuka,
Publisher,Vanguard Newspapers, Chief Tony Momoh, former
Information Minister, Mr Azubuike Ishiekwene, Mr Gbenga
Adefaye, Mr. Mideno Bayegbon
Others were: Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Mr Olowarotimi
Akeredolu(SAN), President Nigerian Bar Association, NBA,
Mr. Ndagene Aku, Mr. Donald Duke, former governor of
Cross River State, among others.
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