Recent criticisms of the pace and direction of Bayelsa development should be subjected to facts, evidence and professional scrutiny rather than political narratives, publisher Francis Dufugha has said.
Dufugha, who made the call while responding to recent media criticisms of the administration of Governor Douye Diri, said the press had a responsibility to scrutinise government policies and spending while also presenting a complete picture of development activities in the state.
Key Highlights
- Francis Dufugha urges journalists to base criticism of Bayelsa on facts and evidence.
- He says the media should report both government achievements and areas where the administration has fallen short.
- Bayelsa’s 2026 budget proposal allocated 64.6 per cent of expenditure to capital projects.
- Major projects cited include the 60MW gas-fired power plant and Angiama-Oporoma Bridge.
- Dufugha says government claims should also undergo independent verification.
- He argues poverty, unemployment and infrastructure concerns should remain subjects of evidence-based reporting.
Dufugha: Press Has Right to Question Government
According to Dufugha, the press has both the right and responsibility to question government policies, investigate public expenditure and demand accountability.
However, he argued that journalism should go beyond criticism and provide readers with sufficient context to understand the state’s development record.
“It is therefore necessary to ask: Are we reporting Bayelsa as it is, or are some commentators deliberately reporting Bayelsa only from the angle that suits their political narrative?” he said.
Dufugha said there was a tendency in some commentary to focus on what the government had allegedly failed to achieve while overlooking projects that had been completed, were ongoing or had been commissioned.
Bayelsa Development Projects Under Diri
He cited investments in roads and bridges, urban renewal and the state’s independent power project as examples of projects that should form part of the development conversation.
The Bayelsa State Government’s 2026 budget proposal totalled about N998.37 billion, with N645.26 billion, representing 64.6 per cent, earmarked for capital expenditure. The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure received the largest allocation of N298.68 billion.
In April 2026, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated several Bayelsa projects, including the 60MW Bayelsa Gas Turbine, the dualised New Yenagoa City Road and the 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, according to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Dufugha, however, stressed that the existence of projects did not mean the government should be shielded from scrutiny.
He said journalists investigating the cost of a project should examine its contract value, procurement process, funding source, level of completion and expected public benefit.
“If there are concerns about poverty and unemployment, the press should obtain and present the relevant data,” he said.
“If government promises have not been fulfilled, the media should ask when the promises were made, what has been delivered and what remains outstanding.”
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Dufugha Calls for Evidence-Based Reporting
Dufugha argued that Bayelsa’s development challenges should not automatically be interpreted through partisan politics.
He said government should provide figures, documents, timelines and other evidence to substantiate its development claims and should respond to legitimate questions from journalists and citizens.
At the same time, he said journalists should maintain professional standards and avoid presenting political claims as established facts.
“A journalist is not an opposition politician. A newspaper is not a political party. And criticism is not synonymous with journalism,” he said.
He added that the credibility of the media depended on facts, balance, verification and the public interest.
Poverty, Jobs and Infrastructure Remain Key Issues
Dufugha acknowledged that Bayelsa continues to face challenges linked to its difficult terrain, limited connectivity and historical infrastructure deficits.
He said questions about the cost and value of government projects, including roads and the proposed stadium project, were legitimate subjects for public discussion.
However, he maintained that such discussions should be supported by verifiable information rather than insinuations or political talking points.
Recent criticism of the Diri administration has included questions about poverty, hunger, unemployment and government spending priorities. Dufugha said such positions should be reported as political claims unless independently established through credible evidence.
Similarly, he argued that claims made by government about its development achievements should not simply be reproduced by the media without verification.
‘Bayelsa Development Should Be Bigger Than Partisan Politics’
Dufugha said residents deserved clear information about what the government had done, what remained outstanding, what had worked and what had failed.
“We should not be afraid to criticise government. But neither should we be afraid to acknowledge development when the evidence shows it,” he said.
He urged the media to maintain its role as a link between government and citizens while holding public officials accountable.
“Bayelsa belongs to all of us. Its development should therefore be bigger than partisan politics, bigger than personalities and bigger than the interests of any political camp,” Dufugha said.
He concluded that while the press had a duty to speak truth to power, facts and evidence must remain the standard of journalism.
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