A former lawmaker who represented Kogi West at the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi and University of Ilorin don, Dr Mustapha Lambe, have advocated for a law for the protection of Journalists in Nigeria and across the globe to allow them perform what their profession demands effectively and efficiently without any hindrances.
The duo made the appeal while feuturing on the popular Yoruba current affairs programme on Unilorin FM radio stations (89.3 fm) titled Ọrọ to n lọ anchored by the General Manager of the radio, Mr Ibrahim Idris Alooma to mark the United Nations’ International Day to end impunity and crime against journalists.
In his own contribution, Adeyemi who is also the former National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said Journalists are like soldiers going to the war front everyday without guns and arms, so they need laws to protect them and also should be able to get justce when being harrashed or assulted in the course of doing their jobs.
Senator Adeyemi who represented Kogi West for 12 years at the Senate, stressed further that journalists must perform their duities with and open mind, truth and fear of God.
The versatile and eloquent journalist cum politician opined that journalists would be rewarded here and at the here after if they dilligenly discharge their duities.
On his part, an Associate Professor of Mass communication, from Department of Mass Communication University of Ilorin, Dr Mustapha Lambe said journalists are indespensible in our society, adding that whoever against journalists are anemies of God.
Dr Lambe who is also the former Head of Masscomunication Depertment of the Universty of Ilorin, added that whoever commits crime against journalists must not go unpunished.
The media guru however stressed further that journalists must be balanced, fair and factual in their reportage to avoid being biased.
Dr Lambe explained that a society without journalists is not only incomplete but cannot progress.
The erudite scholar said journalists are the agenda setter, who according to him bridge gaps between the government and the governed.
The University don explained that laws must be upheld to protect journalists in Nigeria, saying that periodic training and retrainining of journalists must be given priority attention.
He said objectiveities must not be jetitioned by the Journalists pointed out that the profession and the professionals are guided and guarded by an established ethics.
Every November 2nd is set aside by United Nations to wage war against impunity for crimes against journalists in the world.
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