The former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu has said that a country or society where citizens cannot enjoy the freedom of expression will not witness any development.
Ekweremadu who is representing Enugu Senatorial District stated this when he received the new leadership of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Chapter led by its Chairman, Com Lawrence Njoku on Sunday.
“As a lawmaker, I have worked in different reform areas but one area that is of interest to me is the area of freedom of expression, I believe citizens should be allowed to express their views as a society without freedom of expression a society cannot witness any development,” he said
Ekweremadu charged media practitioners to be professional in the discharge of their dirties saying “I want to urge Journalists to be professional while carrying out your duties. You must be moral in your job and engage in thorough investigative reporting.
He condemns the rumour of awarding him the construction of Enugu Onitsha road which some people said he siphoned the funds meant for the project.
He said “as you know it’s easy for people to believe media reports. I had a zoom meeting with some Nigerian’s living abroad and they told me that there was a report that the Enugu Onitsha road project was awarded to me and I didn’t do it and that’s why the road is yet to be done, such report is false and does not make sense and that’s the major problem we have in our society.
“Also in 2015 when President Mohammadu Buhari came to office and they were looking for an opportunity to discredit me, a judge said I was given money to develop South East and I didn’t do it so if a judge who is supposed to be presiding over peoples affairs can have such ignorance or mischief, there is a big problem because they are just looking for ways to discredit us.
So I want to advise that as a journalist If you have such information about anybody, don’t rush to the press as you need do a thorough investigation before you publish,” he said.
Ekweremadu thereby assured his readiness to give awards to journalists that are doing well in investigative reporting saying “ we will always support and give awards to Journalists who are engaging in Investigative Journalism as a way of rewarding their hard work,” he said.
Earlier, Com Njoku described Ekweremadu as a strong advocate for the development and betterment of Nigeria since he assumed office at the National Assembly
“We want to encourage you to continue with the good work of lending your voice for the betterment of this country as well as your support for the media practitioners,” he said
Njoku thereby urged him to consider given awards of hard work to media professionals in the state that discharging the duties effectively saying it will go a long way in motivating them to do more for the society.