Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun, has urged journalists to seize advantage of the new media by creating blogs to ensure accurate and objective information occupy the social media space.
Osoba blamed those he described as fake journalists, whom he said lacked requisite qualification, for escalating hate speeches on social media.
The former governor who spoke at the unveiling of the 20 room guest house built by the Lagos Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Somolu, Lagos, lamented the activities of bloggers and other quacks who parade themselves as journalists sending out reports that caused tension in the country.
He also urged the National Assembly to be mindful of infringement on the freedom of expression enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution in consideration of bill against hate speeches.
The veteran journalist, said, “professional journalists usually engaged in self-censorship such that only one per cent of news materials that could cause division in the nation was let out while the other 90 per cent was downplayed” .
“which is why journalists must seize advantage of the new media by creating blogs to ensure accurate and objective information occupy the social media space” .
“People will always listen to credible radio, TV and follow credible sites,’’ he said.
He further advised professional journalists to key into ongoing biometric registration of journalists in the nation to flush out quacks.
“We are going through difficult times; this hate speech is an attack on the freedom of expression.”
“If anybody must legislate, it must take into account anything that would undermine the freedom of expression,’’ he said.
