The media professionals have been described as guarantors of free and fair election with a charge that they should watch and ensure that democracy does not slip.
Speaking during a one day workshop for media representatives to amplify their demand for accountability, social inclusion, anti-corruption and transparency towards 2023 election in Imo State held in Owerri, Imo State, a political scientist and a lecturer at the Imo state University, Prof. Sam Ezeanyika noted that there is need for the media, like television, radio, newspaper, online to understand their responsibility of mainstreaming accountability, social inclusion, anti-corruption and transparency in their report to assist in the governance process.
The workshop which was organized by Alliances for Africa (AFA) with support from Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) and MacArthur Foundation had the objective as “to improve knowledge and intensify media voices and demands in advocating for accountability, social inclusion, anti-corruption and transparency.
Ezeanyika posited that good governance ensures citizens compliance to rules and policies, adding that democracy is not a new wife to be acquired, it is a way of life of a people through socialization, it is learning by doing and a culture. He said that the media should ensure that there is accountability, social inclusion, anti-corruption and transparency in governance by their reportage, stressing that the media has the duty to change the narrative.
He blamed the citizens’ lack of engagement and involvement in governance especially as it concerns engaging the elected representatives on ‘collective amnesia’. He urged the media to always unearth governance issues that have been swallowed by the myriads of reportage and draw attention to them for leaders to know that the citizens are not forgetful.
In her remarks, Lilian Ibeh who spoke on behalf of the Alliances For Africa (AFA) hinted that the training became necessary given that election is by the corner, hence the need to activate the consciousness of both the elected representatives and citizens to think of issues of governance that will be beneficial to all and sundry. She called on the media professionals to continue to speak up in their different forum to ensure that accountability, social inclusion, anti-corruption and transparency is mainstreamed in governance. She described the media as more powerful than they know, adding that they can correct the ills of governance through their reportage.