Without journalists, everybody, particularly the less privileged would been in total darkness, retired Chief Judge of Ondo State, Oluwatoyin Akeredolu has declared.

Akeredolu stated this yesterday in her tip at the 2023 thanksgiving service of  Nigeria Union of Journalists, OndoState Council, held at New Covenant Church, Akure.

She posited that God uses journalists to enlighten people and commended the media practitioners for making themselves available for the arduous tasks.

The retired CJ enjoined journalists to be righteous and follow the ethical values of their profession.

She listed the ethical values of journalism to include: accuracy, independence, impartiality, humanity, accountability.

She enjoined journalists to scrutinize whatever information they want to publish and totally shun corruption in whatever guise.

In his message, Rev. Rotimi Fagboyegun described journalists as  the light of the world that must not be found wanting by every standard, even as he charged them to always hold those in authority responsible for their misdeeds.

“You are the light of the world and expected to illuminate the entire system.

The society is getting worst day by day.

Things are extremely bad now to the extent that people run away from the country. Bank managers are leaving the country for a caregiver, security guards, Uber driver.

“You are the voice of the masses, we need to hold people in authority accountable. What is happening in the country is dangerous. Endsars of two years ago was a rehearsal. You are the light of the world, take your stand always”, Rev. Fagboyegun stressed.

Chairman, Ondo State Council of NUJ, Leke Adegbite who was represented by his Vice, Hakeem Gbadamosi, thanked God for his mercy during the year and promised that journalists in the state will not deviate from the core values of the profession.