By Seyifunmi Odunuga
A member of the House of Representatives from Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency, Oyo State, Hon. Shina Peller has urged Nigerian journalists to intensify their efforts in promoting peace and correcting societal ills in the country.
Hon. Peller stated this whilst making his remarks at the 3rd Annual Shina Peller NUJ Ramadan Lecture/Iftar held on Friday 23rd April 2021 at Press Centre, Iyaganku Ibadan, Oyo State.
The programme, which had Professor Afis Oladosu, the Dean Faculty of Arts, the University of Ibadan as the guest lecturer, also had in attendance about 150 members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council including the chairman, Comrade Ismail Ademola Babalola.
In his remarks, Hon. Peller emphasized the need for journalists to use all the instruments at their disposal to help the government in addressing insecurity and other challenges that the country is battling with.
He said, “As the fourth estate of the realm who serve as watchdogs of the society, I implore you to intensify your efforts in helping to correct the societal ills in the country.
“Our country is presently battling with a lot of challenges, and topping the list is insecurity. As journalists, we need to use all the instruments at our disposal to help the government in addressing this.”
Similarly, Hon. Peller advised the journalists to avoid being used irresponsibly and callously by any politician who may want to ride on their influence to fulfil his or her political interest or ambition at the detriment of the overall interest of the country.
“As the 2023 general election approaches gradually, you must not allow politicians to use you irresponsibly or callously to fulfil their political ambition or interest at the detriment of the overall interest of our dear country,” he said. “We must not allow ourselves to be used as an instrument for division and violence,” Hon. Peller added.
In the same vein, the federal legislator acknowledged the pivotal role Comrade Adewunmi Faniran played in bringing up the annual Shina Peller NUJ Ramadan Lecture/Iftar, adding that it started with him three years ago and that he (Hon. Peller) will continue to do everything within his capacity to ensure that the program doesn’t go into extinction.
Earlier in his opening speech, the chairman of the Oyo State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Ismail Ademola Babalola, commended Hon. Peller for taking it upon himself to be the sole sponsor of the annual NUJ Ramadan programme. The chairman also added that Hon. Peller has been sponsoring the programme prior to his being elected as a member of the House of Representatives.
