Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned the Nigerian media against the increasing tendency of romanticizing grave national issues, saying such actions pose a threat to democratic accountability and nation-building.
In his speech on Tuesday during the 17th LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards at the Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, Shettima via his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Modibbo Umar called on journalists to remain steadfast in their constitutional mandate of promoting truth and accountability.
We must not yield to the temptation of romanticizing complex national issues or describing them in ways that mislead popular perception,” the Vice President stated. “This only discredits the very essence of our democracy and diverts our shared effort at nation-building.”.
The conference, which was ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism’, convened government, business, and civil society leaders to discuss the fiscal challenges confronting the country and the leadership imperative for their resolution.
Shettima also commended the LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group for being deeply committed to ethical journalism. “I want to commend LEADERSHIP Newspaper for the foresight to convene this critical conversation and for shining a light on those who have chosen to lead with courage and competence. May we never tire of working towards a better Nigeria,” he stated.
