The Presidency on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari would not hesitate to step on big toes in the current war his administration is waging against corruption in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said this at the opening of a three-day retreat organised for State House correspondents in Kaduna.
The retreat with the theme, “Journalism and the change mantra, State House in focus” is orgnised by the Presidency and is being hosted by the Kaduna State Government.
While admitting that anti-corruption is a war, Shehu said the press could help Buhari to win the war as one of the government’s weapons against those who aim to pull the country down.
He said that was necessary because the power of the media lies in its ability to expose wrongdoing.
He said, “President Buhari has embarked on an anti-corruption campaign that is bound to offend many. Big toes will be stepped on, personal interests will be cast aside. As the popular saying goes, when you fight corruption, corruption fights back.
“Yes, anti-corruption is a war. And the press can help President Muhammadu Buhari to win that war. You are one of the government’s most lethal weapons in this battle against the forces that aim to pull down Nigeria.
“The power of the media, if they have any power at all lies in their ability to expose wrong-doing. This power of exposure is a far more effective deterrent in many countries, including our own, than the court systems that deliver judgement and not necessarily justice.
“If they know that that they will be exposed, many crimes will not happen and herein lies the challenge of the media under Buhari’s administration.
“Use your power to expose wrong-doing, the days of impunity are gone. This is the best way to help the change, now that we have a government with the will and capacity to right all wrongs. But ensure accuracy and the sanctity of the truth.”
In calling for accuracy in media reports, the presidential spokesman said freedom of the press must come with responsibility.
He regretted that he and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had spent a good deal of their time as Buhari’s spokesmen so far countering false information that had been published and presented to the public as facts.
He attributed the cause of many of the reports to the quest by many practitioners to break stories, hence they were not thorough.
He said the Nigerian press has a responsibility to provide the public with information that is factual and verified.
While acknowledging the role played by the press in the emergence of the present administration, Shehu said the government still required the assistance of the media to continue the process of change.
“President Buhari has embarked on the building of a new Nigeria and we need all hands on the deck. We cannot do without the media.
“The government needs you, the press, to keep the public informed on its many activities and policies that are geared towards improving the lives of the Nigerian people according to the change agenda.
“The government needs the press to remain impartial and eschew spurious incentives when reporting and carrying out your responsibilities.
“The government needs you to avoid partnerships with enemies of progress who are bent on bringing down the government, not minding if the entire country collapses while they are at it.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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He should forget to start with tinumbu, fashola and amaechi, he has left what he came for has been chasing shadows, is buhari free of corruption? ???
ReplyDeleteI agree fully. After that will support him
DeleteMuch as we embrace this anti- corruption crusade with its associated benefits, your Government selective attitude has marred, to a devastating extent, the beauty of the programme. All the defectors from PDP to APC never commited sins. Or who among the sinners being prosecuted by your administration comes from APC? Very soon, all the members of Boko Haram will defect to your noble party to escape prosecution.Well, as events are unfolding, we are watching.
ReplyDeleteIf you or people that reason same way as you have concrete evidence that other politicians stole public funds why not present such evidence to the police or Efcc instead of showing your lack of knowledge and understanding here on social media.All you thieving supporters are crying of is selective prosecution but you all failed to expose convincingly corruption against other politicians not from pdp.You either shut up or speak out if you have evidence
DeleteYour personality is evidently revealed by your way of writing.It shows how crude, unrefined, uncultured and untutored you are.Learn how to speak to the elders.You are told to express your opinion, and not to insult people on this platform.As events are unfolding, we are watching.
DeleteAfter 7 months... I'm not interested in his bullshit anymore
ReplyDeletepls I need serious help cause am confused. I just found out that my girl friend is SS. I met Lora, she was so innocent and calm , we got talking And we clicked , I lived in ph while she schooled in Lagos, I came visiting once in a while, or she comes around 2, I noticed she was always sick, but I felt it was the normal regular sickness , and no one told me any thing .
We dated and I decided to propose to her , and she agreed to marry me. I went to see her parents officially and we started making arrangement for the wedding.. Few weeks to our wedding we stepped out to watch a movie, as we got to the movie house,my girl friend just fell to the ground and fainted ,so I rushed her to the hospital,,were I found out that she was...
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These are the benefactors of the corruption we are talking about.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of democracy is that it allows both informed and not so informed opportunity to air their views. The risk is that even the thieves and their cronies are afforded opportunity to whip up sentment or fight back. It doesn't matter whether it was selective, indeed it would have been better for GEJ or PDP to disgrace and expose APC chieftains who are corrupt but since their hands are badly soiled they did not have the gut to fight corruption.
ReplyDeleteIf all PDP thieves are jailed when they regain power they should also expose APC thieves as well.
Whether APC or PDP, we are tired of always saying or talking without facts, proper investigation, always telling us what you intend to do. Do it without telling us. Let us see you bring the big theives to justice. Why tell us that you will step on their toes, or are you scared of them? No worry match their toes we the masses are supporting PMB in the fight against corruption.
ReplyDeletePmb, You have the full support of nigerians, step on whoevers toes, even if that person is having double toes. Carry on!
ReplyDeleteToo much talk, no action. We have heard it a thousand times and still counting.
ReplyDeleteWhere are some of these commentators when the truth about how $47 million packaged in 11 suitcases and handed over to our erstwhile NSA was exposed? One of the rich Yoruba adages says and translated literally as "We are bringing out bird from the pouch, you are postulating whether it is black or red". Patience is the watchword. Please relax and enjoy the movie as it continues.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is berift of ideas, more confused than Jonathan
ReplyDeleteBuhari is berift of ideas, more confused than Jonathan
ReplyDeleteWe naija's we have prbms wooo, instead of dis senseles joke we suppose 2 pray 4 our leaders is more better.
ReplyDeletewhich way Nigeria?
ReplyDelete