9th November, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Andrew Obinyan has called on Nigerian journalists to unite in the fight for good governance and the security of the country.
He made the call on Wednesday in Benin, at a prayer session organized by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council.
Obiyan who stressed the need for unity among members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, noted that without unity, the responsibility to hold politicians and leaders in all sphere of human endeavours accountable will be a mirage.
“Journalists have a very important role to play in nation-building. As the fourth-estate of the realm, the constitution of the Federal of Republic of Nigeria empowers it to hold government at all level accountable to the people.
“For you to be able to perform this noble responsibly, members have to be united. The masses depend on you for good governance,” he said.
The Clergy man however lauded the leadership of the Chapel for organizing the prayer session, noting that without God, the labourer labours in vain.
It would be recalled that various political interest groups and well-meaning Edo indigenes, both at home and in diaspora had in recent times, called on the Catholic Priest to contest for the 2024 governorship election in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Nefishetu Yakubu, noted that the prayer session was to offer thanks to God for His protection of her members since January.
She prayed God to continue to shower His blessings and favours on members for the remaining period of “ember months” and a better 2024.