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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, charged media practitioners to be transparent in discharging their duties as the watchdog of the society.
He gave this charge at the opening ceremony of a 3-day retreat of the Peoples Democratic Party Press Corps, with the theme: “Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy,” taking place at the Eleventh House Hotel and Suites, Jericho, Ibadan.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in Ibadan, the state capital, noted that journalists must hold political office holders accountable in the interest of the public.
“The media plays a critical role in development by holding those occupying public offices accountable, serving as the watchdog for the society.
“If you don’t hold people accountable, they may do whatever they like and may not pursue public interest. And public office holders, appointed or elected, are meant to work in the interest of the public.
“So, when the media does its job and holds those in political offices accountable, the likelihood of them working in the interest of the public is high.
“On the other hand, the media too must hold its members accountable, because the space the media is holding is the public space and the media is holding it in trust for the people. So, there won’t be development if the media fails to work in the interest of the public.”
The governor said transparency and accountability from public officeholders would result in development, which is the ultimate goal of the media and the wish of the society.
He noted that his government recognised the need for transparency and that it took the decision to build strong institutions and also create a feedback system to enable the citizens of the state to participate in governance.
Earlier, the Chairman of PDP Press Corps, Samuel Ogidan, said the retreat aimed at engaging the participants deeply in conversations and training that would equip them to meet the rising demands and complexities of political reporting, especially in the age of digital disruption.
Ogidan, who described Makinde as a visionary leader with a passion for transformational governance, lauded his efforts in improving infrastructure and impacting other sectors.
He added that the governor’s leadership capacity has brought remarkable progress and growth to the people of the state.
In his goodwill message, the Assistant Director of Publicity, PDP Headquarters, Richard Ihediwa, also commended the governor for supporting the organisation of the retreat.
