Media now last hope of common man – NUJ president

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu

President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Christopher Isiguzo, has said that the judiciary which used to be hope of the common man has failed Nigeria.

Isiguzo said that instead of the judiciary, the media is now the last hope of the common man.

The NUJ president who was one of the discussants at the Big Ideas Podium organized by the African Heritage Institution, Afri Heritage, an apolitical, research institution based in Enugu, said that the media is now playing a pivotal role of not only being the last hope of the common man, but vital agents of positive change in the country.

Speaking on the theme: “Human rights and democracy in Nigeria: Agenda for a new era,” Isiguzo said that Nigeria must go beyond talk show and move Nigeria forward.

“We must go beyond this gathering and move on to how Nigeria will move on.  The media is now the last hope of the common man because the judiciary has failed.

“The media must rise to the challenge of proffering a new era for Nigeria, ” he said.

Re-echoing the keynote speaker, Prof. Chidi Anselem Odinkalu, who posited that politicians and wealthy Nigerians have now bought over the judiciary, Isiguzo said that unless the media and the people rise up, Nigeria like a fast moving train would be heading for destruction.

The NUJ president said that he believes so much in Nigeria’s unity and progress as a nation, pointing out that Nigeria must work.

“I believe in Nigeria and I believe that Nigeria must work.  I don’t believe in ethnic cleavages,” he said.

Isisguzo posited that one of the ways to better Nigeria is to get the electoral system well because everything, development, national cohesion and integration lies in a workable electoral system.

“If we get the electoral system right, every other things in Nigeria will be right.  It is important we get the electoral system right.  Unless one man, one vote counts, we cannot get it right,” Isiguzo declared.