Pix: L-R Isiaka Mustapha, CEO, PSM welcoming Chris Iziguzo, NUJ
President shortly before the interview yesterday
”Yes I quite agree with you that indeed we are faced with numerous
challenges of insecurity in the country; but one thing all of us must
know is that the business of security belongs to everybody is not what
we can leave in the hands of only security operatives. And let me
emphasize the fact as stipulated in the Nigeria’s constitution that
that the most cardinal responsibility of government is to ensure
security of lives and properties, and of course ensure that the
welfare of people is taken care of.
What this means is that when you talk about security there should not
be preferential treatment, all the citizens including the journalists
must be protected generally at the same pace, there should not be
special group to be identified for protection, the government must
provide security for every dick, tom and harry.
The government must ensure that lives and properties are safe no
matter the status or professional calling of the citizen. If the
security is provided with adequate and valid security system there is
not going to be clamour for special security for journalists.
Yes of course lots of journalists had been killed in the line of duty,
but beyond the journalists we also had cases of several other citizens
who were either kidnapped for ransom, maimed for no reasons or even
killed without explanation, so therefore we are at risk..
The moment the journalist knows that he’s operating in such
environment that is bereft of security, and it is very clear to him as
a journalist, he should then devise a means of operating within that
peculiar environment, so as minimize the chances of falling a victim
of insecurity.
The situation in the country is very clear to all of us as Nigerians,
and also clear to journalists too as Nigerians, therefore a journalist
should learn not to move recklessly, and he should be mindful of the
situation at all time. You must conduct yourself in a manner that
preserves your life all the times. No matter how juicy the story you
are pursuing may look like it’s not worth your life, if you feel that
the environment is not conducive enough please leave out, there are
other stories you can pursue elsewhere.
It’s important that certain security tips must be availed to
journalists, so as to guide them in the course of their duty. As a
journalist you need to be extremely careful about the people you
interact with, and how you reel out information even to the people you
speak with on phone, because you are not really who is after you.
But in all these, the truth of the matter is that the no matter how
tense the situation may turn out to be journalists are not expected to
abandon their job, because the moment journalists abandon their job
the country is thrown into state of anarchy, and the entire populace
becomes deaf, dump and blind. So, no matter what the journalists are
critical stakeholders in the task of nation building.”
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