The media as watchdog of society and gatekeeper, functions to relay, limit, expand, and reinterpret information as a result of its prime status as fourth estate of the realm, meaning the fourth power after the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.
It follows that the multifaceted roles of the media in democracies and in governance cannot be overemphasized, which is why every responsive and responsible government must partner effectively with the press to propagate government policies, programmes and achievements to target audiences from time to time.
In nearly eight years and counting, the Okowa administration in Delta State has done well in the aspect of robust partnership with the media, as can be seen from the quarterly media interactive sessions between the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and working Journalists in the State, through the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, and moderated by the Information Commissioner.
The government and NUJ synergy has been result oriented in many ways including; the completion and commissioning of the Delta NUJ Secretariat and the new Government House Press Centre which was built, furnished and commissioned by this administration.
This accomplishment created a classy and conducive work environment with state of the art facilities for Government House Press crew under the joint supervision of the Honourable Commissioner for information, Charles Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olise Ifejika.
In the light of the above, Journalists in the state are eagerly looking forward to what the incoming administration would do differently in terms of work synergy between government and the media under Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, who is to be sworn in as Governor of Delta State on May 29, at Stephen Keshi International Stadium, venue of the inauguration Ceremony.
Speaking on Sunday via a public affairs radio programme monitored in Asaba, Spokesperson of Delta State Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olorogun Barr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the incoming Governor will not be found wanting in the area of positive synergy with the media.
He assured that Oborevwori will sustain the level of robust interactive sessions with the press via the NUJ, and improve on the enviable relationships built by the state governor, Dr Okowa, noting that the incoming governor as Speaker of the State House of Assembly for six years, worked very closely and harmoniously with Journalists in the state.
Oghenesivbe, who is also the Secretary of the Publicity/Programmes Subcommittee of Delta May 29 Inauguration Ceremony, said the incoming governor of Delta State is a man of the people, and that includes working Journalists and social media influencers in the state and beyond.
“Be rest assured that he shall continue in the positive direction of result oriented synergy with members of the fourth estate of the realm, because as Speaker for nearly six years, he has been interacting positively and cross fertilized ideas with working Journalists in the state, and at national level as the Deputy National Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.
“House of Assembly Correspondents testified to his consummate leadership and the positive impacts on their individual career in the past nearly six years. The testimony is the same everywhere, because Elder Oborevwori is always focused on workers welfare and their wellbeing at all times.
“Gov Okowa obviously raised the state in media relations and effective partnership with the press at the state level and beyond, but I can tell you for free that the incoming excessive local content and street credibility governor, Elder Oborevwori, will listen more, do more and achieve more for Government House Correspondents and Journalists in the state.
“I urge members of the press in Delta State and across Nigeria to kindly extend their positive hands of fellowship and partnership to the incoming governor of Delta State, because he’s a leader that cares, he has positive aura and pleasant personality,” Oghenesivbe said.
Comment here