NAN-H-81
Media
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Jan. 27, 2017 (NAN) Former presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, has urged the media to cover the activities of new political parties as they do the existing ones.
Sonaiya made the call during her visit to the Lagos office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
The former presidential candidate, who was responding to a question on why KOWA party’s visibility in the democratic space is minimal, urged the media to not let the money bags dominate the airwaves, the print media and so on, constantly reporting the so-called big parties.
Cue in audio
“I am surprised when media people tell me that our party has not been visible.
“When a new party comes up, do the media give those new parties equal coverage as they do to the established big ones?
“I have been concerned that it will be good for the media to see themselves as partners in this quest for good governance.
“Many times, it is the big ones, who have plenty of money, who command the space, the airtime and so on.
“And yet I think possibly one thing that the media could do is allow Nigerians to know the options that they have, seeing it as part of your corporate social responsibility.
“It is something you should do for the country that you should let the people know the various options that they have.
“Do not let the money bags dominate the airwaves, the print media and so on, constantly reporting them.
“Let the people know that there are other voices, other options; we are doing our best but the limitations of money that is a reality that we have in Nigeria.
“So we are very active for instance on the social media.’’
Cue out audio
Sonaiya stressed the need for Nigerians to join the new political parties and give them the chance to meet their aspirations for good governance within available resources.
According to her, the problem of Nigeria is bad leadership evolving over the years adding that the country’s resources could have been utilised to achieve lofty ideals.
She decried the failure of the country to accelerate its development because of greed and corruption. (NAN)
LED/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
===============================