The Majority Leader Kwara state House of Assembly, Barr Oba Abdulkadir Magaji, Thursday, counselled Nigerian journalists to always consider the nation first in their reportage of events and happenings in the society.
“If you want to e the government do it in a way that it will build the nation, do it in a way that it will not tear the nation apart, do it in a way that it will promote unity and development,” he said.
The house leader spoke at seminar for journalists on the theme: “Nigerian Parliament and Nation Building – The Role of the Media,” organised by Sobi Fm Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Nigeria Media Parliament held at the conference room of the radio station, Thursday.
He said, “Apart from the legislative arm of government, the media plays more important role in nation building,” stressing that practitioners must always guard against reportage that could tear the nation apart.
Magaji, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Ilorin Central constituency and the chairman, House Committee on Business and Rules, emphasised the need for all arms of government to partner with the media in promoting good governance
“Any government, military or civil, that wants to succeed must partner with the media in nation building,” he said.
Magaji highlighted some of his constituency intervention programmes to include weekly palliatives cash donation to women, ICT and graphic design training for selected youths, medical outreach and grading of some roads amongst others.
Acting chairman, Sobi Fm Chapel of the NUJ, Kayode Adeoti said the seminar was organised to build the capacities of members in the discharge of their duties