A lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Prof. Mohammed Shafiu Abdullahi, has urged journalists to play a vital role to rid the country of the present insecurity bedeviling it.
The Islamic studies lecturer warned journalists against sensational reportage that would overheat the present insecurity challenges bedevilling the country to chaos.
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Kaduna, Abdullahi noted that journalists, as the fourth realm of the estate, play a vital role in complementing the government’s efforts towards ensuring sanity in the society.
Prof Abdullahi who is also the Acting Registrar, National Board for Islamic and Arabic Studies (NBAIS), Kaduna, lamented how some media outfits compromise ethical standards by becoming agents of doom and contributing to the woes the country is going through.
He explained that professionalism and ethical values should be the watchwords guiding practitioners of the noble profession.
He lamented that bias, molestation and character assassination have become the basis for the present-day practice of journalism.
“It is worrisome how some media organizations will hasten to go to press without cross-checking of facts and fair balancing just to tarnish somebody’s image.
“Let me tell you that I am also a victim of such unfair, biased and unbalanced reportage by some media outfits,” he said.
He also noted that so many unconfirmed and biased publications were carried out in the past by some media organization against the board and his person, targeted at tarnishing the good image of NBAIS.
He said that it is very unfortunate when professionals become armchair journalists who succumb to brown envelopes just to destroy a built legacy.
Abdullahi is of the view that journalists should concentrate on the successes recorded by security operatives rather than stories of criminals.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the noble profession to guide their activities by professional conduct to compliment the good efforts of security agencies and the Federal Government.
