PANTAMI: Media Watch Group blasts purveyors of fake news in Nigeria, accuses some media of deviating from journalism ethics
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“Some media organizations would out of sentiment and parochialism wilfully use false stories before investigating them instead of investigating before publishing or broadcasting!” Muslim Media Watch Group complained.
The report in the media early this week linking the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to Boko Haram and terrorism, has been described as false, baseless and unfounded.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, stated this in a statement sent The DEFENDER Thursday and signed by its National Coordinator Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi.
According to the Group, Dr. Ali Pantami has impeccable record academically, religiously, professionally and socially that cannot be destroyed by any group or individual through fake-news and unsubstantiated allegations.
The Group said it has investigated the allegation and found it to be tissues of lies and false media propaganda by enemies of Nigeria and some undesirable elements who are envious of the rising profile of an outstanding Professional in the area of ICT, good administrative skills and transformational Agenda in his Ministry which would lead Nigeria into new economic progress and development.
The Muslim Media Watch said within a period of three years in Government as a Director-General in the ICT Industry, Dr. Isa Ali Panrami received over 110 Awards nationally and internationally for his outstanding academic and professional achievements even before he assumed office as Hon. Minister, adding that someone who had delivered over 25 Public Lectures condemning the doctrines and heinous crimes of terrorists and insurgents cannot be part of them.
The Group, therefore, stated further that ‘no wonder, that some of the print Media Organizations that carried the false reports have started retracting their false stories against Dr. Panrami, to save them from conviction in Courts of Law. This is very bad.
“Some media organizations would out of sentiment and parochialism wilfully use false stories before investigating them instead of investigating before publishing or broadcasting! One of the ethics of journalism is to ‘leave – out’ when not sure of any story and carry-out your independent investigation before publication,” the Group maintained.
MMWG reiterated his support for stringent laws to deal with purveyors of fake-news in-order to rid the Nation of the crime which in most cases has led to civil war, unrest and destruction of some Nations.
