Journalists in the country have been urged to be on the watch and to be cautious about their reportage as Nigeria is faced with threats to life and insecurity.

Rev Pam who spoke while delivering a sermon at the thanksgiving service of the Plateau State chapter of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Sunday, 23 May, 2021, said “we are in the days of perilous times and things are very difficult”

Rev Yakubu Pam who was guest speaker during the service which held at Church Of Christ In Nations, COCIN Hwolshe noted Nigeria will ” benefit more if we come together” to fight our common enemy.

Speaking on “The Role of Media on Peace Building: The Biblical Perspective, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC said
Journalists in the country should know that as purveyors of justice, ” the society was looking upward to them on how the paint the picture of the country before the eyes of the international community.

He noted, “we have fanatics in the church who do not want to talk about peace. Who will go out of their way to inflict pains and sorrow to people not minding the negative consequences of their action. He insisted, “peaceful living is essential and we must be seen to promote it”

Taking his text from the books of Isaiah 52:7: Psalms 68:11 Songs of Solomon 2:8, Mark 13:10, Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:18
Rev Pam said “journalism did not start today but has been there for ages from the biblical accounts of what took place as sighted in the scriptures.

He further said “journalists and preachers do the same work as not everybody is a preacher nor a journalist unless they under go rigorous training”.

According to Rev Pam “Nigeria is presently facing threats to peace, insecurity, violence and all sorts of criminality.

” Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry and agitations to split the country have taken centre stage and there are increased tensions including natural disasters and their likes but said “God has reasons for what happens around us”

He said , the social media has done more damage to our nation but however said, in all this, “the journalist has the responsibility of good reportage to safeguard the nations integrity”.

“The society that we are in today is full of story hiding. Journalists are responsible for speaking the truth, digging out root courses, analyse and proffer solutions if we must make meaningful progress”

He said “there are red lines and the Journalist has to be cautious to guard against incitement. He said journalists must exposed the truth and speak to the authorities were it mattered.

According to the ES, journalists must ensure they do thorough investigation and bring out hidden stories that have been dragging the nation backward.

He said government on its part needs to listen to the people as journalists represents the people and always serve as their voice.

He further decried those in the forefront to destabilize this country to “think twice” as any out break of war will tell on the country’s territorial integrity.

He said as citizens we must avoid tendencies of sentiment and the rise of ethnic agenda as he said, “ethnicity has taken over today as we promote our individual ethnicities than building bridges of peace. This is the biggest problem.” He said.

On Peace building, he said the purpose of the media is not only to report but to give an accurate account of events so as to encourage and promote peace.

He said the power of God is always demonstrated when we seek His face. He said sensational reportage always inflame tension, conflict and insecurity. He said as religious leaders and journalists we all have the role to play when it comes to peace building.

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NCPC Boss, Rev. Yakubu Pam Charge Journalists to be Gate Keepers Even in Perilous Times