Governor of the proposed Yei River State David Lokonga Moses said a nation without media is like a “doomed nation”. His comments came a week after the National Security Service deployed forces in his state to monitor news articles, announcements, and program topics on Radio Spirit and Easter.

“Without the media in any country, it’s like a blackout area where people cannot see what is in front of them. Therefore with the media, people will see far and know what is happening in and around the country” Lokonga said.

Lokonga said a person who threatens journalists and closes down media houses is a person who doesn’t know the importance of having a media in the country. He also said his government will ensure that no journalist or media house is threatened by security forces.

“These media houses have the right to be protected and there is need for politicians and leaders to protect the journalists. I have worked with the media when I was still the commissioner, so there is no need to mistreat journalists in my state but instead we need to support and train them because the young nation needs more journalists" he said.

Lokonga has also called on media institutions and organizations to extend more capacity training to existing and upcoming journalists in his state to enable them report accurate information to the people.

“Some of the media staff and their houses have been accused that they passed wrong information against the government and this is because others still lack appropriate skills and knowledge"

Lokong appealed to other governors in the other remaining 27 states to open their doors to the media so that the people and the international community can know what they are doing as leaders towards building the country.

“I am very committed to ensure that the environment for the people and the journalists is “peace and stability” so that any person being small or big, governor or journalist can work hard and contribute towards building the country. So there no need for us to make the situation hard for other people when they have a role to play in development”