By Okechukwu Okwuchukwu
The Chairman, United Nigeria Airline, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Thursday, dismissed the reports that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo sociocultural organisation endorsed one of the presidential candidates for the 2023 general elections.
A report published by the Punch online and some other media platforms showed that the apex Igbo organisation endorsed the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, on November 20, 2022 in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.
But Okonkwo, who is the Director General of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Anambra State, described report of the endorsement as false, adding that even if happened, some like himself, could still differ to the position.
Speaking as a Guest Lecturer at the 2022 symposium organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council held under the theme, 'The Role of Media in Guaranteeing the Sanctity of the Electoral Process in Nigeria,' Okonkwo insisted that Ohanaeze has procedures of endorsing candidates and that whenever such procedure was met, it would be widely reported.
"Ohanaeze endorsed Atiku on 2019 general elections in a meeting at Enugu. That meeting was well attended and widely reported by various media houses. But for now, they have not done that. So everyone has a choice and should be allowed to choose who to support. But even if they decide to endorse someone tomorrow, minority can still express themselves. But majority will still have their way," Okonkwo maintained
He described the media as a key player in "the success or otherwise of the political class, including the government. As media professionals, you have an enormous opportunity and responsibility to help sanitize our electoral process as well as change the current trajectory of governance in Nigeria."
Okonkwo equally enjoined the media to help sensitise the populace to stop attacking opposing views or opponents to their political parties candidates.
"Don't attack anyone. You don't have right to force anyone to support your candidates. You don't insult or attack anyone that is opposing your political views. You can convince them to vote for your candidates. We all have equal rights to support any political party or candidate.
"This is a new phenomenon that the media should help us to educate people on. We need to educate our people to understand that politics of emotions or sentiments won't help us in this region. Let it be one of the resolutions that people should reach here today," he stated.
The Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, a keynote speaker, while speaking on the imperativeness of using the traditional media in marketing state policies noted that the country is one and cannot be threatened by the activities of those he described as people who have the “Hitler mob” mentality.
Other speakers at the event, including Professor Chinyere Okunna, represented by Professor Chinwe Uzochukwu of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and the State Commissioner for Police, Mr Echeng Echeng, represented by the command's PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, charged journalists to always maintain decorum and uphold ethics of the profession in their reportage.