 |
| Comr. Daniel Obo, Chairman Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter |
The Chairman Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State chapter, Comr. Daniel Obo has called on the government of Cross River State to make the state a Fee Press state, as this will lead to the masses gaining the full dividends of democracy.
The Youth leader who also charged the incoming governor, Prince Bassey Otu to place Cross River at the forefront of press free states, said he has confidence in the Governor elect whom he described as a lover of the press.
Obo who made the call, via a press statement issued in Calabar to mark the 2023 International Press Freedom Day said it’s a day to recall and celebrate the value the press has added to democracy. Adding that many journalist have lost their lives and that of their loved ones while others have been traumatised in the cause of defending the nation’s democracy through the practice of journalism.
The Obubra born politician said the Cross River State Youth Council totally support Press Freedom and believes that both the transiting and incoming governors of Cross River State will make the state an example of a Free Press state in Nigeria.
The statement reads below:
“Today is a day where we recall the value the press have brought into our democracy and society at large.
It is worthy to note that young people are a part and parcel of the today’s press and as young cross Riverians who saw our parents went through a lot of pains in making sure that the Nigeria we have today stands. Some were attacked, some wer brutalized, others had their families go through lots of traumas, some died all in the quest to have the kind of democracy we have today, we join the rest of the world to celebrate this day.
So as we celebrate today, we pray that the government of Cross River State continue to give the press the freedom. The freedom to say the way it is, the freedom to be fair in it’s reporting, the freedom to be just and equitable in all their dealings
The press is where the common man goes to vent his anger a d even gets attention in addressing some critical infrastructure, communal clashes etc
For us in the Youth Council, Cross River State celebrate the press. And we totally support the press freedom. We believe that cross River state will be an example in terms of press freedom
We have the confidence of the transiting government and even the incoming government in terms of the press having its freedom in Cross River State. They both have character and are also press friendly.
Once congratulations to Nigeria
Congratulations to Cross River State and
Congratulations to the Press“
Recall that today being May 3rd has been set aside to celebrate journalist and their contribution in shaping societies. Being the fourth estate of the realm. It’s a day that was set aside 30 years ago to constantly remind governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
It is an opportunity to:
celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
defend the media from attacks on their independence;
and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
