ThisDay Shunned The Ethics And Ways Of Responsible Journalism -Tinubu
By Oladipupo Mojeed
A stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has slammed Nigeria news media outfit, ThisDay, for being unethical in their report stating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus accused him of trying to destroy the senate.
Tinubu in a statement by his media officer, Tunde Rahman, denied the allegation and described the report as false.
“After giving substantial time for ThisDay to correct the outright falsehood used as the cover story for its Sunday, April 2 edition, we are constrained to correct the record.
“Those behind the report are practitioners of political libel. That blatant lie was reported as fact breached the minimum standards of journalism.
“It is sad that ThisDay allowed itself to become an instrument of errant mudslinging.
“Hopefully, ThisDay was only a dupe in this deception. It would be painful to think the newspaper might have been wilfully complicit in this bald assault against truth.
He admitted that there is nothing wrong with publishing hot news but hot news should never amount to a rotten lie.
“The newspaper claimed in the report “PDP Caucus Accuses Tinubu, EFCC of Conspiracy to Destroy Senate” that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in concert with the EFCC, has instigated media attacks against the PDP Senate caucus.
“The story is such an outright fabrication that it claims the PDP Senators held a special meeting to discuss Asiwaju Tinubu. However, PDP Senators claim no such meeting was ever held and that they hold no special animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu.
“We are usually not in the position of agreement with PDP members. But on this rare occasion, we have no contention with them.
Rahmah stressed that although Tinubu has a special affection for the Senate as an institution, but it is not within him to belittle the institution or members of that institution who happen to be in the opposing political party.
“Moreover, his brand of politics does not lend itself to engaging in wanton character and personal attacks.
He noted that there is significant policy difference between the party’s school of thought and the often reactionary ideas of the PDP.
“There are more than enough serious issues over which to grapple the PDP.
“Asiwaju TInubu’s politics are driven by his policy views. He will gladly wrestle against the PDP on substantive political differences. But engage in personal attacks, rumor-mongering and mudslinging, never.
“We leave that for others. The gutter is no place to build a better nation. We seek higher ground. “So that there is no confusion on the core issue here, we categorically deny any hand in any negative personal report on any senator.
“So that there is no confusion on the core issue here, we categorically deny any hand in any negative personal report on any senator”.
