The charge was given on Wednesday 17th March 2021, by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ari Muhammed Ali, during the One Year Anniversary celebration of the Comrade Andy Akpo Emephia-led executive of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council.
Represented by the Area Commander, Asaba, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ibrahim Gotan, who doubled as the
Chairman of the occasion, tasked journalists to be neutral as much as possible.
“You also have to abide by the ethics of your profession by hearing the two sides of the story. Most of you have been doing that especially in the area of crime reporting.
“As you know, security is a very sensitive issue. So, I implore you to always balance your story if there is any incidence before publishing anything because the present Commissioner is journalist-friendly and we operate an open door policy. Our offices are always open for you”.
Speaking further, he disclosed that Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), have been charged to always listen to journalists who come to seek clarification from them.
“We have always educated the DPOs to always welcome any journalists that comes to the office to clarify issues so that at the end we have a balance story and that will cement the relationship between the police and the journalists and enhance our best for a secured Delta state”, Ali said.
In his remarks, Chairman of NUJ in the state, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, encouraged reporters to continue doing their jobs professionally.
Hear him: “As journalists let us continue to do the good work that we have been doing. While we live on earth we should reap the efforts of our labour so that we will not wait until we get to heaven”.
According to him, the awardees should count themselves lucky for being selected for the honour, noting that they must have been contributing their quota to the society.
Said he: “Today, I know that some awards will be given and I want to let the awardees know that for them to be chosen by this Chapel for this great honour, they have contributed to the society. They should also continue to do their best to see how we can all build a better society that we can all be proud of.
“We will continue to play our roles as watchdogs of the society and we will continue to do our best to set agenda for all of us to walk on.
“The NUJ Delta State Council, we have decided that in going forward, all of us must do what we can at the Chapel and State levels to contribute our quota to the building of a better society. That we will continue to uphold and not forgetting that also, we will let our members know that whatever you do be mindful of the fact that the ethics of this profession is sacrosanct.
Commending ICC, Comrade Ikeogwu noted: “The Nigeria Union of journalists, Delta state Council, is proud of your chapel. You are one of the chapels that have been able to hold this kind of ceremony and I want to use this opportunity to call on other chapels to please to emulate what the Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel has done”.
In his welcome address, elated Chairman of ICC, Comrade Andrew Akpo Emephia, hinted the guests that the Chapel houses qualified practicing journalists at the grassroot across the state.
“Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel, is the umbrella body for all qualified and practicing journalists who write for community based Newspapers, Magazines, Radio, Television as well as reputable Online Media in Delta State. Ours, is strategic to the communities”, Comrade Emephia, added.
