Anambra Guber: Group Berates APC Team For Misleading Journalists
The Executive Director of Media Ethnics and Rights Initiative, an Onitsha based media critic and responsible journalism advocacy group, Prince Ezekiel Amanambu, has condemned what he described as a deliberate misleading of journalists covering the on-going electioneering campaign for the November 16, gubernatorial election in Anambra State by some elements working for the campaign machinery of the APC.
Prince Amanambu who spoke, Wednesday at a gathering of newsmen in Onitsha took umbrage at the recent misrepresentation of facts by a cross section of the media as captured in the reportage of the recent debate between the deputy gubernatorial aspirants in Anambra State that was broadcast on live television.
One of the reports made wild off the mark claims that implied that aspects of APGA Deputy Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nkem Okeke's submissions at the debate suggested that there was graft in Governor Peter Obi's administration in Anambra State.
“That was the worst form of irresponsible journalism I have ever seen,” Prince Amanambu declared. “The debate was live of TV. Everybody saw the debate and we all listened to Dr. Okeke's views. Where in the world did they get the lies they fed the people with? It is disheartening that some ill-prepared politicians have decided to lie about their opponents in the hope of misleading the electorate,” he further observed.
The Media Rights advocate also expressed shock at the misleading report in some newspapers alleging that Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Chief Willie Obiano, the APGA gubernatorial candidate were pelted with sachet water during a recent campaign tour of the major markets in Onitsha. Dismissing the report as baseless and hollow, Prince Amanambu advised media practitioners to be wary of unscrupulous politicians who would do anything to upend their opponents.
“I live in Onitsha and I witnessed the huge crowd of traders that turned out after shutting their shops to cheer Governor Obi and Chief Obiano. There was not even a single incident throughout the visits to various markets. That's why I felt a bit of a shock when I read some online reports that were published long before the rallies were over, alleging that the APGA team was pelted with pure water by the crowd. These people may not know it but they have just scored an own goal with these spurious reports. We shall prove this to them on Election Day,” he declared.
According to him, his group normally content-analyze media reports on the on-going campaign with a view to ascertaining objectivity and promoting moderation amongst the parties. But the tendency on the part of the APC team to steer away from the issues to personality attacks has sent a disturbing signal that has compelled the Group to call them to order.
“I am particularly bemused by the obvious mischief implied in the report claiming that Obiano's deputy gubernatorial candidate had admitted graft for governor Obi's administration. In truth, Dr. Okeke was simply making a case for e-governance, pointing out how the use of technology can plug all leakages in the revenue generation mechanism.
But the report lied against him, leaving us worried for good reasons. Our fear is that these types of reports usually fuel disagreements and create unnecessary tension in the state. We urge all parties to desist from circulating blatant lies and run issues based campaign,” he further explained.
Prince Amanambu also observed that as the gubernatorial election gets closer, the political parties and their sympathizers are showing signs of desperation and warned media practitioners in the state to be wary of ghostly party-men who are hell bent re-writing history to win by all means necessary.
Said he: “It is obvious that the politics of brigandage and destruction is a thing of the past in Anambra State. As primary stakeholders in the media, Media Ethics and Rights Initiative, cannot stand akimbo and watch spurious reportage take over the media space.”