March 28, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to embark on a process of self-purification to restore the integrity of their respective professions.
Ewhrudjakpo made the appeal over the weekend when he received members of the NUJ Bayelsa State Council at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
Drawing parallels between journalism and the legal profession, he lamented that both fields are grappling with the menace of quackery and a decline in ethical standards.
He noted that the golden era of fearless investigative journalism championed by the likes of Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Ernest Ikoli has been eroded by the widespread practice of accepting monetary inducements, commonly referred to as the “brown envelope” syndrome.
The Deputy Governor further decried the moral decadence among some legal practitioners, whom he accused of engaging in unethical practices for financial gains.
“Nigeria would not be where it is today if a majority of media and legal professionals had upheld the core principles of their respective disciplines in discharging their constitutional duties,” Ewhrudjakpo stated.
He, however, commended journalists in the state for their coverage of government activities and urged them to do more in promoting accountability and transparency.
On the proposed NUJ Bayelsa Media Summit, he assured the union of the state government’s full participation and support.
He stated, “On behalf of the state government, I congratulate you on your successful election. I urge you to learn from the challenges encountered during the process.
“But beyond that, I want to address some critical issues in journalism and the legal profession. These two noble fields are currently under siege. The level of quackery is alarming, and ethical violations have become rampant.
“Investigative journalism, which once defined the careers of greats like Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Dele Giwa, and Ernest Ikoli, is now nearly extinct. We need urgent reforms to restore credibility.”
Earlier, the Bayelsa State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, commended the government for its strides in infrastructure development and human capital advancement.
He emphasised that the upcoming NUJ Bayelsa Media Summit would help redefine the state’s media landscape and urged the government’s support to ensure its success.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
