Emmanuel kehinde, Ilorin
As the nation’s political journey toward 2023 general elections gather momentum,a renowned media technocrat and Director, Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr.Kunle Akogun,has encouraged journalists and media outfits in kwara state to avoid every form of political partisanship in the discharge of their professional duties.
Mr Akogun made the call while reviewing a B⁶ook”Lest We Forget:Kwara Political Revolution, A Broadcaster’s Personal Account “written by Mrs Aminah Salako Adekunle, at the African Peoples Hall,GRA,Ilorin,the venue of the book presentation.
The foremost journalist said that it was very important for programme presenters and management of media outfits to ensure that they lived above board in their political reportage and presentations.
Mr.Akogun added that the society expected journalists and managers of news outfits to use the positions of trust they hold with neutrality and maturity and at all times,saying that they must avoid any situation where their neutrality and professionalism would be called to question.
Mr. Akogun insisted that the onus was on all the media stations to provide level playing grounds for all registered political parties to reach out to the people particularly during electioneering periods.
He added that given all registered political parties equal opportunities was not only the least expected of a public owned media station but also a basic requirement,which is tantamount to display of justice, equity and fairness.
He added that the accounts of the author had inadvertently betrayed the fact that her programme, “APC Gbode”on which the book was written was deliberately created and ran to chase the previous political tendency out of the leadership of the State.
Mr.Akogun,who completely dissected the contents and contexts of the book,said that it was an encouraging intellectual effort.
He added that the book ought to be read by all those who desired to know most of what transpired in the politics of Kwara State before and during the 2019 general elections, which outcomes he said remains largely incredible to political analysts.
While commending and congratulating the author for recording her experience for posterity, Mr Akogun charged other media practitioners to explore the art of book writing in order to preserve their experience for posterity.laxy