Today, May 3rd, the world marks World Press Freedom Day — a day to reflect on the importance of a free, independent, and safe press. It is a moment that goes beyond celebration; it is a sober reminder of the sacrifices made by journalists, the dangers they face, and the role they play in strengthening democracy, justice, and peace. For us at GbaramatuVoice, this day speaks to the core of our existence. It is not just about freedom to report; it is about the freedom to live and tell the truth in a region where truth itself can be dangerous.
In the Niger Delta, the press does not operate in comfort. We report from the margins — from forgotten communities in the creeks, from oil-polluted rivers, from towns where development is a distant promise. We speak for the people whose stories rarely make the national headlines, whose pains are often buried under silence, and whose dreams are dismissed by those in power. We do this not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. We do it knowing that every story told is an act of defiance against invisibility.
The press in our region is often treated with suspicion, hostility, and sometimes violence. Journalists face intimidation for asking questions. Media houses are threatened for exposing truth. In some cases, arrests and assaults are used as tools to silence those who insist on transparency. Yet, despite these realities, we at GbaramatuVoice remain committed to our duty. We have chosen the harder path because we know that silence helps no one. If we do not tell our own stories, they will either be erased or rewritten by those who never lived them.
World Press Freedom Day is not just a day for media professionals; it is a call to society. It is a call to governments to respect the rights of journalists, to protect rather than persecute them. It is a call to security agencies to understand that the press is not the enemy of the state, but a pillar of it. It is a call to oil companies and multinational corporations operating in our region to be transparent and responsible in their dealings with the people. It is a call to our communities to stand with the truth and protect those who report it.
We also speak to our colleagues across Nigeria and the globe. Let us hold on to integrity. Let us resist the temptation to become tools of propaganda. Let us remember that press freedom is not just about speaking — it is about speaking truth to power. Let us be reminded that journalism without courage is just noise.
As we mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day, we remember those who paid the ultimate price. We remember those imprisoned for simply doing their job. We remember those threatened daily yet remain undeterred. And we at GbaramatuVoice reaffirm our mission — to inform, to expose, to inspire, and to represent the realities of the Niger Delta and its people.
In this part of the world, telling the truth is an act of resistance. But we remain unshaken. The pen remains firm. The voice remains loud. The mission remains clear. The struggle for press freedom is the struggle for justice. And in the creeks of the Niger Delta, truth remains a revolution.
— GbaramatuVoice | May 3, 2025
