Presidency Urges Media To Show More Decorum On Security Matters

THE Presidency has appealed to media practitioners to show more decorum and professionalism in the reportage of security and humanitarian matters in the country. It said the growing lack of respect for journalistic ethics and press laws in the Nigerian media, especially regarding the clashes in Benue State was unfortunate. Speaking through the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu yesterday, the presidency, which came hard on the media, said the frequent expressions of hate speeches being published by newspapers, in news stories and especially in columns, were a source of concern. “We want to state emphatically that a segment of the Nigerian media is sinking deeper and deeper into the mesh of hate speeches, in spite of repeated appeals by recognised and reputable media bodies, the government and concerned Nigerians. “Unfortunately, self-regulation, which is the norm in civilized societies, has taken flight from many of our newsrooms. “For instance, a recent column published in a national newspaper , ‘‘President Muhammadu Buhari was the first to endorse the Benue massacre’’ on New Year’s day. The same columnist described the Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-ali, as ‘‘a dyed-in-the-wool Fulani irredentist, who places trade over and above human life. “The diatribe went further to invite citizens of the country to arm themselves and fight each other. In addition, one of the newspaper's Saturday headlines read: 'Expect More Blood in Benue.”