Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.
~ Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
As we celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, let pause and observe a minute silence in honour of the three Nigerian journalists murdered last month and other journalists, writers and human rights activists murdered in different parts of the world.
The gruesome murder of Deputy Editor Nathan Dabak, 36, and reporter Sunday Gyang Bwede of The Light Bearer and Edo Sole Ugbagwu the Judiciary reporter of The Nation newspaper did not cause any public uproar online or offline, most people were discussing the forthcoming FIFA World Cup coming up in South Africa and also betting on their favourite teams in the English Premiership. Only the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and some of their sympathizers came out to protest on the street.
Since the letter-bomb murder of the Founder and Editor of Newswatch Dele Giwa on October 19, 1986, other journalists have been assassinated and one of them Bayo Ohu of The Guardian newspaper was claimed to be a victim of armed robbers. But other journalists have received death threats and I was warned not to report a controversial case of billion dollar tax evasion by a multinational oil company operating in Nigeria. I reported the news with the facts and figures, because I am not afraid to tell the truth even if the truth condemns me as well.
My priority right now is to use the Internet for news and information that would be of great benefit to those who need the knowledge to improve their lives and appreciate the creations of God according to the Parables of the Sower and Talents by Jesus Christ who paid the supreme price on the cross for speaking the truth.
Millions of people continue to perish for lack of knowledge of the truth.
We must publish and report the truth to defend and promote justice and expose every injustice and vice.
Knowledge is power.
Those who have knowledge must share it with others in equity for the balance of power in the world so that no one would be at the mercy of another person, no matter their class, creed or race.
My mission is to report the truth and expose lies, to promote justice and expose injustice and to use the best resources to help as many people as God grants me the grace. And I am happy doing so.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
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