Clergymen in the South East have pleaded with a section of the media in Nigeria to cease malicious publications against the region and it’s people.
The clergymen, operating under the aegis of Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission,named a particular online medium which they accused of portraying the Igbo as a group without love and respect for peace.
The affected medium was said to have been acting persistently as a mouthpiece for the Nigerian government’s manipulative narratives.
Apparently unhappy with the trend, the clergymen asked the promoter of the online media organization to stop the media war and negative narrative against the people of Igbo extraction in Nigeria.
Their statement released in Abuja on Thursday is entitled, ‘We must set the record straight’, and signed by Rev. Tony Uzo Anthony, President General/ International Coordinator and Apostle Tony OSU, the Secretary General.
Parts of the statement read, “We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the media establishment for its persistent role as a mouthpiece for the Nigerian government’s manipulative narratives, as evidenced by its latest publication on April 29, 2025, titled: “Police dismantle IPOB camp, arrest suspected killer of inspector”;.
“This report, which parrots unverified claims from the News Agency of Nigeria,
marks yet another shameful chapter in its descent into journalistic deception.
“By amplifying baseless allegations
against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the medium has exposed itself as a willing tool of oppressors intent on
subverting justice and perpetuating ethnic bias.
“Responsible journalism demands impartiality, rigor, and a commitment to truth. Yet, this media organization, under the influence of its
alleged Fulani ownership, has chosen to ignore the flimsy evidence presented in court against IPOB and the collapsing case of
the prosecution.
“Instead, it has aligned itself with the Federal Ministry of Information, a body increasingly controlled by forces prioritizing ethnic irredentism over national unity.
“This fixation on IPOB and the Biafra agitation, while ignoring the government’s own failures, is not only a betrayal of journalistic ethics but a deliberate attempt to distract from the real crisesplaguing Nigeria.
“The pitiable plight of residents in the North East and North West, where Fulani herdsmen and terror groups wreak havoc, deserves urgent attention.
“Schools are shuttered, villages are razed, and innocent lives are lost daily. Yet, this online medium remains silent on these atrocities, choosing instead to propagate fake news that serves the interests of a discredited regime.
“This selective reporting is beyond comprehension and raises serious questions about the outlet’s motives.
“We demand that the affected organization immediately desist from its role as a purveyor of state-sponsored propaganda.
“It must redirect its focus to exposing the systemic failures of governance, including the unchecked violence in the North, rather than
scapegoating IPOB to curry favor with those in power.
“The Nigerian people deserve a press that holds the powerful accountable, not one that amplifies their lies.
“Failure to heed this warning will only further erode its credibility, cementing its legacy as a disgrace to the noble profession of journalism.The time for accountability is now.”;
