Address Inequalities in Anambra Health, Education Sectors – Bishop Nwokolo urges Soludo

…  Says Media, Government collaboration critical in fight against insecurity

By Lawrence Nwimo, Awka.

Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Anambra State, Rt Rev Owen Nwokolo has urged Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to address marginalization and inequalities instituted by previous governments in the State.

Bishop Nwokolo said there is presence of inequalities, injustice, marginalization and deprivations in the education and health sectors of the State and advised the governor to do the needful by giving every section a sense of belonging to make the State livable and prosperous.

He advised the governor to work with an all-inclusive team to
roll out reforms, initiatives, and strategies that will turn around
the State for the good of all.

The Bishop made the call in an address he delivered at the Anambra State Media Executive Summit organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council in Awka, the State
capital.

Stating the critical role of collaboration between the media and government, the Anglican Prelate urged journalists in the State to join forces with the State government in its fight against
arsonists and hoodlums.

He stressed that any collaboration between government and the media would go a long way in achieving a secure environment that would be livable.

Nwokolo who stressed on the import of truth and objective reporting regretted that some journalists have thrown professionalism to the wind and that “objectivity, fairness, and responsibility are now compromised in the reportage of events.”

The Bishop said the compromising attitude of some journalists has encouraged people in positions of trust and authority to no longer be accountable to the people.

He noted that politicians have started growing thick skin and dismissing news from some quarters as “fake news”.

He enjoined journalists to be factual, objective and truthful in
their reportage and advocated training and retraining of journalists for improved performance in the digital environment.

While Bishop Nwokolo reminded that journalists are the voice of the downtrodden and voiceless, he challenged the practitioners to be responsive and hold governments accountable to the people.

He charged the Union to “develop strong muscles and to pull triggers to bring to its knees any government or individual that toys with the mandate of the people.”

He also urged them to go extra mile to educate and inform the electorate on the corrupt background of some of the candidates, while stating why and how they have become unelectable ahead of the 2023 general election.