By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
A former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Shola Omotola, has challenged journalists in Nigeria to speak truth to power and hold the country’s leadership accountable to the citizenry.
He explained that doing so was the best way to guarantee genuine development that would flow with democracy in the country.
He stated this as a guest lecturer at a two-day Retreat for the journalists covering activities of the National Assembly in Keffi, Nasarawa State, which ended yesterday
This is as the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal, and others, pledged to make any information needed by journalists available at any time, in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act
Omotola, in his paper titled: Developmental Impact of the Executive on Nigeria’s Democracy, 1999-2024, said successive elected governments at the federal level since May 1999 have by policy formulation and execution, tried to carry out development projects across the sectors but failed to tackle poverty.
He lamented that their failure to effectively tackle poverty among Nigerians had made development, being a vital component of democracy, to be substantially missing in Nigeria over the years.
He said, “The theme of this retreat, ‘Democracy and Development: How far, So far, for Nigeria?’, is, therefore, very apt, timely, and cogent.
“Democracy and development are inextricably interconnected and must flow together, the very reason why journalists in Nigeria, need to speak truth to power in making it so, in Nigeria.
“Development is basically about the people reaching an acceptable standard of living, having the basic things on which they need to live decently – housing, shelter, clothing, food -nutritionally balanced diet, portable water, clean environment, among others.
“All hindrances to these in Nigeria from corruption to bad policies, need to be exposed from time to time by journalists who are the watchdogs of the society,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that “for Nigeria to have sustained the practice of Democracy for more than 24 years and remaining as an entity, show that development would surely follow.”
*Akpabio, CNA others promise openness in the 10th National Assembly
In his remarks at the retreat, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC Ekiti South), said the Senate under his leadership, would not deny any journalist, access to information as provided by the FOI Act.
Similarly, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambawal, represented by Secretary of Research and Information, Mr Ali Umar, said since Democracy provides a more favourable environment for development, management of the National Assembly, will continue to provide a conducive working environment for journalists for very balanced and objective reportage.
However, the Chairman of the Senate Public Account Committee, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (SDP Nasarawa West), said for development to flow with Democracy in Nigeria, Nigerians need to move away from sentimental reasoning and conducts, and embrace one another as a member of the same family.
He said, “Discriminatory tendencies among Nigerians of all ages and status, must be stopped, for genuine development to take place and for the country to remain more united and peaceful.”
