The Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini has called on journalists across the nation to use the pen as mass communication and not a weapon of mass destruction of personalities.
Kunin made the call when he hosted Journalists for the 3rd end-of-year Dinner held at the conference hall of the Cathedral Centre in Jalingo, the capital city.
He stressed the need for a paradigm shift in the role of the media in the present political dispensation, urging the press to adopt the agenda Setting Theory of mass media by ensuring objectivity.
The Speaker explained that the call has become imperative as the 2023 general elections are around the corner, noting that already the drumbeat of politics has started gathering momentum and some aspirants have thrown their hats on the ring, while others are making wide consultations before declaring their intentions to contest various elective offices at different levels.
Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini, therefore, advised the press to engage aspirants on their manifestos to tell the masses what they have to offer, rather than allow them to wear the toga of ethnicity or religion to canvass for support and votes.
In their separate remarks, the Nuj Chairman, Taraba State Council, Mr. David Nya, and that of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Gabriel Yough all appreciated the Speaker for recognizing and appreciating Journalists in the state and urged him to maintain the cordial relationship between the legislature and the fourth estate of the realm for the development of Taraba State.
Our Correspondent reports that this is the third end-of-year dinner organized for Journalists by Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini since he assumed office as the Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly on 2nd December 2019.
Those in attendance include principal officers of the state house of assembly, the NAWOJ Zonal Vice President, Zone ‘E’, Comrade Dorcas Philemon, and Nawoj zonal Secretary, Tani Akas, the Taraba State Chairperson of Nawoj, Comrade Dinnatu Audu, the Secretary of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Femi Bolaji as well as the SWAN Secretary, Taraba chapter, Sani Sulaiman among others.
Sani Sulaiman