Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has applauded the media for its resilience in covering events in the nation.
Peterside, who spoke in Port Harcourt in honour of this year’s world Press Freedom Day, extolled the media for its contribution to nation building, describing the nationalist journalists of the colonial era as patriots, who fought gallantly for Nigeria’s independence.
While tasking the media to emulate the shining examples of these statesmen and founding fathers, who fought even at the risk of their personal comfort for a better society, he requested Nigerians to work tirelessly towards protecting freedom of expression and rights of everybody.
According to him, “Freedom is an indivisible word and no country can genuinely make progress if its citizens are denied the right to life, right to choices and above all, right to freedom of expression.
“As we mark World Press Freedom Day, we must reflect on the dangers of censorship, particularly in developing countries where government policies and absence of strong institutions remain a stumbling block to free speech.
“It is important for Nigerians, irrespective of creed or political leanings to stand in defence of press freedom as we consolidate on our nation’s march to democracy”.
Peterside went on to identify censorship of any kind as not only a flagrant infringement on personal liberties of citizens but also a damaging trend on the growth of any nation.
While praising campaign groups across the country for their crusades, he urged citizens to resist impunity and any contravention that dehumanizes their existence either as individuals or groups.
