By Mike Adeyemi
Religious leaders in Ilorin, Kwara State at the weekend prayed for the restoration of peace in Nigeria.
They also prayed and called for improved welfare for journalists, serving and retired whom they noted are sacrificing all they have to make the country a better place for all to live.
The clerics who ministered at an interdenominational prayer organised by the Kwara State chapter of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ) are a former Grand Khadi in the state, Justice Salihu Mohammed, Prophet Femi Dairo of the Christ Apostolic Church and Imam Olayiwola AbdulSalam , the Chief Imam of Radio Kwara.
The event which was held at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin was graced by a veteran media guru and immediate past political adviser to Kwara State Governor, Alh Saadu Salahu, the state NUJ Chairman, Umar AbdulWahab, the national financial secretary of NUJ, Biodun AbdulKareem and national treasurer of the National Association of Women Journalists ( NAWOJ), Hajia Fatima Rasheed as well as former secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in the state, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu.
Justice Mohammed urged all Nigerians, irrespective of religious beliefs to preach peace and asked journalists to continue to promote only those things that will ensure peace and tranquility in the country.
Imam AbdulSalam, who said God was the first journalist, admonished people of the fourth estate to continue to double check their reports before publishing.
He reminded them that” God warns us against saying what we don’t know”.
On his part, Prophet Dairo, urged journalists and other Nigerians that survived year 2020 amidst COVID-19 pandemic to be grateful to God.
Praising journalists for their selfless and often non compensated services to the development of their fatherland, Dairo reminded them that God loves them.
“God support the work of journalists. Journalism is not a job for a lazy person. This is why our government and other stakeholders must ensure improved welfare packages for our journalists across the country,” he stated.
He, however, charged journalists to “always seek for truth, justice and peace, adding” what you are not sure of don’t publish it.”
In his remarks, the special guest of honour at the event, Alh Saadu Salahu, assured Kwarans that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq” is here with the best of intention to ensure that Kwara becomes the best state in the country.
“Kwarans should continue to support him and his administration. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is the best governor that Kwara ever had.”
Noting that journalists play vital role in national development, Salahu recalled that most of Nigeria’s founding fathers were journalists.
He, therefore, called for better remuneration for journalists across the country.
Earlier, the NALVEJ Chairman in Kwara State, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, had enumerated the modest achievements of his young administration.
He said the special prayer was organised to pray for Nigeria, Kwara and journalists across the country and seek God’s favour for the league’s members in the New Year.
