Fides Media Living the Faith
… Calls for Collaboration across Board
By Chioma Ndife
The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye, has called for collaboration among people for the elimination of the violence currently rocking the South East, saying that all persons must join hands for the actualization of peace.
Bishop Okoye made the call in his office at the Secretariat of Nnewi Catholic Diocese during the courtesy visit of the newly elected executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The Catholic prelate described the visit as a significant one, noting that the media had a very essential role to play in curbing the current security situation through factual reportage and their agenda setting functions. He noted that he was particularly touched by the recent security issue in Anambra State.
He pointed out the pains and sufferings that residents of the state currently passed through because of the issues, noting that Governor Chukwuma Soludo was working tirelessly to make Anambra State to work. He said that the security situation was crumbling the economic activities of the South East as the people now lived and operated in fear as a result of the uncertainties.
He commended the NUJ Team for coming to visit him and assured them that the Diocese would partner with the media in its various activities and disclosed that Nnewi Diocese was greatly at a disadvantage as it was a border town with Imo State.
He said that Lilu-Isseke-Azia-Orsumoghu Towns were now besieged by the bandits and beckoned on all persons to collaborate with security personnel for the few individuals terrorizing the state to be brought to book.
He said the media had the capacity and ability to pass messages across to the people in the bush for them to drop their guns and take up skills as such would enable them to contribute more qualitatively towards growing the economy. He regretted that out of the ten persons that were recently over powered by the police, seven were from Ebonyi State; two from Imo and only one person was from Anambra. He wondered why people from other states would be causing mayhem in another state.
He maintained that Journalists all over the world put themselves on the line to be able to report activities and tell the world what was happening, saying that such was also required in Anambra for people to know about happenings to join forces for the total elimination of violence and insecurity.