Former Minister of Communication, Mr Emmanuel Adiele, on Friday appealed to journalists to be accurate in their reportage of events in the country.
?Adiele made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
?He urged journalists in the country to concentrate more on the positive aspects rather than dissipating energy on the negative issues affecting Nigeria's development.
?He said such misplaced criticisms could have negative effects on government’s policies and implementation process.
Adiele, who is an economist, noted that inaccurate reportage could hinder economic growth of the country.
?He, therefore, advised the media to reflect on issues that would be of economic value to the country in order to achieve national development.
?Adiele, a former minister in the defunct second republic, described accurate reporting to mean making others understand a story in a manner that can bring about positive development.
?“Media practitioners should aim at reporting accurately; they should try to be as accurate as possible.
?“Some people can understand if you report something funny or with examples; they should always aim at reaching the heart of the people they are talking to.
?“They should be careful and report as much as possible what is accurate; your report should be understood and move us forward.
?“People should adapt themselves to reporting what will make their country grow, not always report negative things about your country.
??“If we can as much as possible avoid provocative reporting; reporting that tends to send people to war.
?“The hopes and aspirations of Nigeria is that the country should grow successful and let others come here to learn or buy things.”
Adiele tasked the media to monitor the activities of government agencies closely so as to provide necessary information on policies and programmes needed to drive the process of development.
He advised youths to take advantage of the Federal Government’s “You Win” programme, designed to enhance their economic status.
?The economist decried the impatience amongst the youth, who he said, indulged in violent crimes rather than engage in viable ventures.
?He urged them not to be deterred by the prevailing poor economic condition in the country, but to strive to be part of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.
“The youths should not be in a haste to achieve what they want to achieve in a very short time.
?“The youths must know that for them to make their contribution effective in Nigeria they have to first understand how it started, and where it is going, and when they expect it to reach there.
?“If the youths follow the government and not to mass attack, if they take it turn by turn as government seem to be taking it now, we will arrive at the place we want to arrive, which is good for the country.
?“So they should learn to follow stages of development and in that we will all grow, no country just started developing without suffering.
?“I think Nigeria has suffered enough that we don’t need to carry on with killing, in order to achieve.
?“All the resources we need; the oil, the minerals, the power, the manpower, the land, everything.
“So, if we put it as the government is trying to put it, if it doesn’t collapse in the next five, ten years everybody will be happy.”
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