Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said he is not averse to journalism but the bad eggs which inject irresponsibility into the noble profession.
He was hosting the former zonal secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji to a dinner to celebrate his 53rd birthday at his residence in Abeokuta where he said the profession was well talked about in his book, ‘My Watch’. He noted that bad journalism should not be allowed to strive, and he would not stop condemning such act in all ramifications, while continuing to celebrate good journalists.
“I remain myself and I will continue to remain myself in being blunt. I don’t hate the media, but there are some bad eggs in the profession, and this must not be allowed, and the truth must be told. However, not all journalists are bad, hence, the need to celebrate the good ones as we are all witnessing today,” Obasanjo said.
He said he would remain opposed to irresponsible journalism until the bad eggs demanding for brown envelopes while disregarding the ethics of the profession are pushed out.
Obasanjo said journalists are expected to play meaningful roles in society, adding that he was not against genuine criticism from the media, but that the practitioners must always be sincere and committed to the ethics of the profession.
