President Emeritus of Aka Ikenga think tank, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has described News Express as a factual and credible medium. He spoke in his position as Chairman of the News Express 5th Anniversary Lecture held on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event, which had Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, as Chairman, attracted a full house and was graced by a galaxy of distinguished personalities. Represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, spoke on the theme of the Lecture, “National Unity and the Restructuring Debate”.

Chief Uwazurike, an eminent lawyer, said in his written address: “I am very glad that this anniversary is celebrating a vintage media organisation. To many people, the press is not an important organ of the government of the people. In fact, the press is often dismissed as a meddlesome interloper. But I dare say that only a fool will disregard the press. The saying that the PEN IS MIGHTIER THAT THE SWORD is always correct. I can go further and describe the press as the scourge of the bad and insensitive government. Press men live among us the people. They see what we see. They feel the exigencies of life like all of us. But this is where the responsibilities begin.

“The average man relies on the media. The government and non-government media. The government media will have a clear cut message. The government is wonderful, it is caring and anybody who does not praise the government’s effort is an enemy, indeed, he is a terrorist.

“The non-government media will always be divided into the independent, the government connected, the opposition connected and the easily malleable one. Today, we are celebrating the medium that has for 5 years stood on the pedestal of the independent group to dish out news as it happens. It is neither a fawning medium nor does it manufacture fake news. Many of us rely on it whenever news breaks because the people behind it are not seeking government favours nor are they trying to pull down the government. News Express is a factual medium. Facts are sacred, no embellishment, no disinformation, no misinformation and no distortion.

“The title of this address is ‘Which way Nigeria?’ This was the title of a documentary in the mid eighties. This was a complement to Onyeka Onwenu’s ‘Squandering of Riches’. The major plank of APC campaign team was the integrity of then General Muhamadu Buhari. Today he is President MuhamaduBuhari. The word integrity has been replaced by the expression ‘Philosopher King’. This simply means that the President is a wise man and that he does not need laws to govern this country. To insist on the adherence to the constitution (Rule of Law) is to declare yourself an enemy of this government.

“Today, some people have been granted bail but the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has declared that it is not all orders of the court that this government will obey. Some board members with statutory flavour have been sacked and indeed some people are already acting when the laws setting up the establishment clearly stated how the appointment and termination will be handled.

“Today, we have a budget but nobody seems to know what happens in it. We are encouraging investors to come yet we display our executive lawlessness for all to see. Can a foreigner invest in an economy when he does not know how to take away his earnings.

“We need the press to be bold and courageous. In the United States of America, President Donald Trump sees the press as his adversary. Yet nobody has been arrested for treason. The press is yet to be muzzled. Can this freedom take place in Russia? Military Govts, Middle East? China, North Korea?

“But back to the Philosopher king. The concept of the Philosopher King is there for anybody who studied the Social Sciences, Law and the arts. The man who posited that it is better to have a wise man rule the people, making decisions as he deem fit was forced to drink poison. But before he died, he recounted and stated that nobody so wise can ever be a better option for the people. Rule of Law remains the best. But the Military government after a coup suspends the constitution and introduces the Philosopher King otherwise known as Decree 1. Last year, there was an attempt to give the President sweeping economic powers to rule by decree. From 2015 to today, the power to grant freedom is with the President. Today, the Presidential spokesmen tell us that those who carry AK47, kill and maim at will are criminals but those who shake their fists at rallies are terrorists.

“But we must thank the vigilant press that we are alert to what is going on today in the world. In the past seven days, Catalan and Kurdish people are holding referendum to determine whether to give in to self determination. But in Nigeria there is a python dance in the narrow streets of Abia State which the ever vigilant people have recorded and transmitted on line.

“There is an expression in Latin VIGILANTIUS NON DOMENTIBUS JURA SUBVENT – Equity helps the vigilant and not the indolent.

“OUR FUTURE RESTS WITH THE PRESS!

“DO NOT DISAPPONT US.”

Among other dignitaries that graced the News Express 5th Anniversary Lecture were Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina and Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Hon. Emmanuel Jime (represented by a Deputy Director in his office, Barrister Richard Obianu).

Others included Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited, Leo Stan Eke; and General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, all of whom held the full house spell-bound with their masterly deliveries.

The event also graced by NTA Lagos Channel 10, Mrs. Helen Onma Odeleye; while former Anambra State Governor and Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, sent representatives. Peter Obi was represented by his Special Adviser, Barrister Valentine Obienyem and Dr. Peterside by NIMASA Director of Legal Services, Barrister Abdulsalam Suleiman.

One of the highlights of the well-attended event was the unveiling of the new logo of News Express by Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina.

News Express, which debuted on August 29, 2012, is one of Nigeria’s most popular and influential online dailies. It is read by hundreds of thousands of people around the world and records annual traffic of upwards of 100 million.