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> Urges the media to put national interest first in reporting news.
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole says all Nigerians must wake up to the reality that terrorists are in the country.
Oshiomhole said this in an interview with State House correspondents today after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The governor, who said suicide bombing was unthinkable in the country few years ago, asked Nigerians to shun blame game and be united in the fight against terrorism.
“My attitude is that Nigerians have to wake up to the reality that terrorists are here. Maybe few years back, many of us didn’t think that was possible. I thought we enjoy living so much so much that no one will wire himself to take his own life just because he wants to take the life of another innocent person. So, for me, on the issue of security, all of us must work together. It’s not a blame game.“The reality is here. A terrorist doesn’t know your age, your region, your religion. The evidence is that everybody has become a victim. So, on this issue, we must speak as a nation, united in a common voice to denounce terrorism and to work together with the Federal government to fight terrorism decisively”, he said.
The governor also charged the media not celebrate criminality, saying they should place national interest above their commercial interests.
“Sometimes, I worry about the headlines. We must not be seen to celebrate criminality because at the end of the day, this is the only country we’ve. Any other country can give you 10 years visa, not permanent residence. We’ve no other country. Even in reporting, national interest must prevail…On the issue security, there is no party, no economic interest, no commercial interest, but national interest. When we win and secure the country, then we can do politics.
“When I see a headline ‘holy war in Kaduna. How can a war be holy? How can an editor write that an act that led to death is a holy war? Until you read the body of the story, then you find that it was an incident in a city where some people attacked some other persons. How can you say that is holy? That may make you sell the paper, but if there is no country, there is no newspaper reader, he said.
Source: Daily Trust
