Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on the Nigerian Guild of Editors to sanction Dr. Reuben Abati, the spokesman to President Goodluck Jonathan, for breaching the ethics of journalism.
Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on the Nigerian Guild of Editors to sanction Dr. Reuben Abati, the spokesman to President Goodluck Jonathan, for breaching the ethics of journalism.
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In a statement signed by its chairman, Olarewaju Suraju, CSNAC affirmed that truth is the cornerstone of journalism, according to the Code of Ethics for Nigerian journalists, and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth in every event.
Quoting the Code of Ethics, it said, “The public has a right to know. Factual, accurate balance and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis for earning public trust and confidence. The journalist therefore should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information”.
On that ground, CSNAC said that Abati has on several occasions breached the provision, citing the following:
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• Stating that the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, was hale and hearty a claim contradicted by the President during a media chat on November 18 where he confirmed that his wife was recuperating from illness;
• Releasing a statement to the media on November 14 on behalf of the president stating that the president had cancelled the Manitoba Power contract, a statement also contradicted by the President during the media chat when he said that the contract had not been revoked but was being regularized as due process had not been followed in awarding it.
• Telling State House correspondents on August 26 2012 that the Government was in talks with Boko Haram, a claim dismissed by the President at the media chat when he categorically said, “There is no dialogue between Boko Haram and Government.”
Calling for professional sanction on the presidential adviser CSNAC reminded the Guild of Editors, “We trust that in line with the provisions of your constitution, you would preserve the traditions and standards of the practice of journalism in Nigeria by canvassing a strict adherence with the code of ethics of the profession.”
CSNAC is a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously and to ensure the effective monitoring of the various anti-graft agencies in the fight against corruption and to enthrone transparency, accountability, probity, and total commitment in the fight to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
Text of the press statement:
CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORK AGAINST CORRUPTION,LAGOS
THE PRESIDENT
NIGERIAN GUILD OF EDITORS
Dear Sir;
PETITION AGAINST DR. REUEBN ABATI
Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) is a coalition of over hundred and fifty Anti- corruption organizations whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously and to ensure the effective monitoring of the various Anti-graft agencies in its activities in the fight against corruption and to enthrone transparency, accountability, probity, and total commitment in the fight to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
According to the Code of ethics for Nigerian Journalists, truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth in every event. The Code of ethics further states under the provision for accuracy and fairness that,
“The public has a right to know. Factual, accurate balance and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis for earning public trust and confidence. The journalist therefore should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information”.
We believe, Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has on following occasions breached the above provision;
Dr. Abati stated that the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was hale and hearty. The president contradicted this statement during a media chat where he confirmed that the first lady was recupperating from illness.
On Wednesday, 14th November 2012, Dr. Abati, released a press statement to the media on behalf of the president stating that the president had cancelled the Manitoba Power contract. However, during a media chat with the President, on Sunday, November 18th 2012, he said that the contract had not been revoked but was being regularized as due process had not been followed in awarding the contract.
On Sunday 26th August 2012, Dr. Abati told the state house correspondents that the Government was in talks with Boko Haram. The President dismissed this claim stating that “there is no dialogue between Boko Haram and Government”
In the circumstances and by virtue of the code of ethics for Nigeria journalists whom Dr. Reuben Abati is a renowned member, we request that Dr. Abati be sanctioned for breach of the code of ethics for Nigerian Journalist.
We trust that in line with the provisions of your constitution, you would preserve the traditions and standards of the practice of journalism in Nigeria by canvassing a strict adherence with the code of ethics of the profession.
Yours sincerely
OLANREWAJU SURAJU
Chairman
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