BY NONYE EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria,( CAMPAN) during the weekend held breaking of fast with Muslims counterpart in Kaduna to promote interreligious harmony.
The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso who spoke during the iftar called on journalists across Nigeria to embrace their role as the conscience of the nation by speaking truth to power.
The Archbishop urged members of the fourth estate of the realm to, as a matter of necessity, always strive to strike a balance and be objective in their reportage.
According to him, the media should use their platforms to unite Nigerians and promote peaceful coexistence.
"You can make or destroy Nigeria with your report, therefore I urge you to unite the people with your reportage. Be peace ambassadors".
He said, "if you uphold the truth, you will hold our country together but sometimes instead of holding the truth some people engage in yellow journalism. You as a journalists you are conscience of the nation. you are the voice of the voiceless, and therefore use this opportunity to say things that will unite the people not things that will divide the country".
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Udawa Mosque, Iman Ilyasu Hussain, commended the initiative and tasked journalists on peace building.
On his part, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna council, Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe thanked the Archbishop for giving his media colleagues the platform to have this kind of gathering, and emphasized the need for its sustenance.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman CAMPAN, Kaduna Archdiocese, Mr Nicholas Dekera, explained that the event was to strengthen Christian -muslim relations in the State.
ENDS