By Benson Ezugwu

 Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has described late Sen. Anyim Ude as a “disciplined statesman, who lived his life for the unity and progress of Nigeria”.

Mbah said this on Thursday in Enugu at the memorial lecture of Sen. Anyim Ude, organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Southeast.

The governor said that the late journalist and broadcaster was a revered personality during his lifetime.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah urged Journalists in the state to tow the footsteps of the late Ude by practicing their profession with truth.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, Mrs Patricia Obila, commended the organizers (NUJ) and family of late Ude for honoring their own.

Obila, who represented Gov Francis Nwifuru, promised the family of Ude that the government of Ebonyi where he hailed from would not abandon them.

The guest lecturer,  Mr Olu Akpata, former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), delivered a lecture on the topic: “Freedom of the press, fake news and the rule of law”.

Akpata said there was the need for journalists in the country to live up to their responsibilities, especially in the area of investigative journalism.

He said that the socio- economic crisis in the country today demanded the intervention of Journalists, Lawyers and the organised Labour.

The former NBA boss said there was the for closer relationship among journalists, lawyers and labour unions as vanguards of the society.

“There is a need for a healthy relationship between Lawyers and Journalists for Nigeria to move forward,” he said.

He decried the lack of investigative journalism and the take over of media space by untrained citizen journalists who mastermind “fake news.”

In his remarks, the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo described the late veteran journalist as an “exemplary figure, champion of justice and staunch advocate of Press Freedom”.

Isiguzo used the occasion to urge journalists to remain steadfast in upholding the principles of objectivity, impartiality and accountability in the pursuit of truth.

Many important dignitaries including former Minister of Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo, former MAMSER Director General, Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi and the National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonna.

In his response, the eldest son of late Anyim Ude, Mr Nnanna Ude, thanked the organiser and Journalists in the South-East for honoring his late father.

He said that in appreciation, the family had instituted a N1 million award for the best investigative journalist in the country annually.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Maureen Atuonwu