The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, The Most Rev. Femi Ajakaiye, has

said that full implementation of the 2014 National Conference report is the panacea to moving Nigeria forward.

Ajakaiye, who was a representative at the conference, made the call on Sunday at St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado Ekiti, at a service to mark the 2017 World Communication Day.

He said that the report, if fully implemented, would nip in the bud many problems threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.

According to him, the report also has the potential of solving the problems of many groups agitating for self-recognition in the country.

The topic of his sermon taken from Isaiah 43:5, was “Fear not, for I am with you: Communicating Hope and Trust in our Time.”

Ajakaiye advised journalists and other Nigerians within and abroad, to project the country in good light.

“We must engage in constructive forms of communication that rejects prejudice towards others and foster a culture of encounter, helping all to view the world around us with realism and trust.

”We have to break the vicious cycle of anxiety and stem the spiral of fear resulting from a constant focus on “bad news” (wars, terrorism, scandals and all sorts of human failure).”

The cleric urged all newsmen to work toward overcoming the growing discontent and resignation that could at times generate apathy and fear.

While commending the federal and state for recognizing the late Governor of the Western region, Gen.
Adeyinka Adebayo, also urged them to do so for the late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, whom he said, worked hard for the unity of the country.

He criticised the National Assembly members for increasing their own budget in the recently passed 2017 federal budget, urging the political class to always think of the masses.

He charged them to make the welfare of the masses their priority and advised the people to always vote for credible candidates who would meet their yearnings and aspirations.

(NAN)