NGE Reacts to Ahmad Gumi’s Description of Journalists as ‘Criminals’
The Nigerian Guild of Editors has reacted to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s description of Nigerian journalists as ‘criminals’, saying the statement credited to the cleric was condemnable.
The Guild expressed its displeasure at the Gumi’s stance in a communiqué of the standing committee meeting of the NGE held on Thursday, in Lagos State.
The communiqué, which was sent to Nigerian Sketch on Sunday, said “The Guild condemns a statement credited to an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, describing journalists as criminals.
“Sheikh Gumi had accused media professionals of adding to insecurity in the country by the names used in describing bandits. He levelled the accusation when he featured on Arise Television station, suggesting that ‘nice’ words should be used to describe bandits, if the nation desired that they surrender.
“Sheikh Gumi and his like minded are hereby reminded that Journalists don’t create events, they merely report them. Also, journalists should not be expected to eulogise a group of people that abducts innocent children and others at will.
“The Guild also denounces the choice of words by some governors who commented on the state of insecurity in the country. They are reminded that holding a public office comes with enormous responsibilities. Those who do not have solutions to the current security situation should not aggravate it with irresponsible public comments. This is no time to play to the gallery.
“The Guild calls on the government to live up to its fundamental responsibility of securing the lives and property of Nigerians. The new Service Chiefs should devise a new strategy to rid the nation’s forests of bandits and other criminal elements”, the communiqué said.
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