Media
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), on Wednesday, saluted the consistency of PUNCH (Nigeria) Limited to truth, justice and tenets of democratic values and good governance in the last five decades.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the publishers of THE PUNCH, SATURDAY PUNCH and SUNDAY PUNCH has been a shining light, stellar and spectacular in reporting societal issues through solution-focused and developmental journalism as it affect millions of Nigeria.
The group commended PUNCH (Nigeria) Limited for standing ramrod straight and stiff in the face of oppressive regime change in Nigeria, daring various military despots and their dark and vicious attempts to subjugate press freedom as well as restlessly bringing the government to account on the people and resources of Nigeria.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It was the ever-green philosopher Mahatma Gandhi who said his aim is not to be consistent with previous statements on a given question, ‘but to be consistent with truth as it may present itself to me at a given moment’. HURIWA believes without a doubt that PUNCH has lived with the philosophy of truth and consistency and have grown from truth to truth.
“We commend PUNCH for its consistency in speaking truth to power and for its objectivity and fairness in news reportage over the past five decades.
“No wonder, the company has stand the test of time since its establishment on August 8, 1970, nad has continue to inform, educate and entertain Nigerians and the world at large.
“We acknowledge that this tremendous feat is not without expensive sacrifice as the company, in its bid to perform its constitutionally assigned responsibilities, was shutdown many times by the powers-that-be and nany of its employees were also harassed and detained by successive military regimes.
“HURIWA urges the leadership of the newspapers to remain uncompromising and stick to the legacies of the founder, Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin, of informing and educating Nigerians on issues as they affect them and most importantly, by holding corrupt government officials accountable and exposing the rot that has dominated governance.
“We charge them to continue to blaze the trail in professional news reporting and keep Nigerian journalism on the World’s map of excellence.
“For being lionhearted in a terrain where many have chickened out, we say 50 hearty cheers to PUNCH Nigeria Limited leaders and staff!”
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA.
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Tags: Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko HURIWA
