By Oboh Agbonkhese

Professor Grace Alele-Williams, former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, UNIBEN, has accused journalists of treating Nigerian politicians as demi-gods, rather than subject them to critical evaluation.

Speaking at a briefing by the Initiative for Moral Rectitude in Society, IMRS, in Lagos, yesterday, Alele-Williams, who is the Vice Chairman of the body, said after creating the “political class,” journalists failed to set parameters for person in that class.

Earlier in his address, Chief Philip Asiodu, IMRS Chairman, expressed disappointment at the degree of violence during election campaigns despite the non-violent pact signed by the presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress.

He said: “We appeal to all political parties to respect the terms of the pact and to discuss issues and propose practicable programmes, which will address the severe challenges confronting the country.

“They must begin to look ahead, beyond the elections, to how to promote national consensus on the measures required to drastically reduce cost of seeking political offices and cost of governance.”

On her part, Alele-Williams said: “The Nigerian media have created a ‘political class’ without setting the benchmark, values and criteria for belonging to that class. The result is that politicians that have not done anything for their constituents are given publicity.”

A member of IMRS, Rear Admiral Andrew Okoja (retd) lauded the armed forces for their professionalism and support of the country’s democracy.