BY: STEPP OFFI, SOUTH SOUTH BUREAU CHIEF/EDITOR
The media is not just called the Fourth Estate of the realm for the fun of it. It is so called because, like the other three arms: Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary, it plays a valuable role in a democratic form of government.
Any government that undermines the significant role of the media in the dissemination of information on policies and programs is doomed for failure. More so, in a democracy such as ours, and indeed in every other part of the world, it is almost impossible to govern successfully without the press. Whatever goes on in the other arms of government there is great and effective checks and balances by the press. Apart from its traditional roles of informing, entertaining and educating the masses, the media also have a strong potential to influence public opinion, determining the political agenda, providing the link between government and the people, acting as a government watchdog and affecting socialization through value reorientation. An independent press, one dares to say, is like the eyes of Big Brother, seeing everything that goes on in Government however state owned media outfits ever so often, suffer from lack of infrastructure and other necessary working materials mostly because of the bureaucracy that is involved in decision making. The machines are outdated and journalists work under very stressful conditions – a situation that limits their performance and consequently affects the closeness of the people and the Government.
It is in the light of this that at inception, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, began an overhaul of its information machinery by rejigging existing media facilities in the state. The Bayelsa Executive Council took a decision to build a media house, with state-of –the-arts infrastructure.
Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation had been gutted by fire, leaving the staff in Porter cabins. The attack on the broadcasting station by miscreants, on the eve of the Governors inauguration compounded the woes of the Government. Not long after the fire attack, the radio mast of the station collapsed. The fortunes of the Niger Delta Television, also owned by the State Government, were not better. The television station, located at Gbarantoru has its own fair share of challenges. This was made worse by the sitting of the Bayelsa State Airport nearby which reduced its mast height in compliance with aviation regulations. Unfortunately, the reduction in mast height gravely affected the reach of the station.
Consequently, barely a year into government Diri set out to set a record by building a modern media house. All the organs of the State Ministry of Information, orientation and strategy, which were in bad state of repairs, it was decided, would have to be brought to the complex. The dream of that complex has become a reality. As part of a two week program to make Diri’s two years in office, the gigantic structure was inaugurated.
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The atmosphere was dynamic. Young men and women gyrated, twisted and wiggled in different moves of the traditional Owigri dance of the Ijaws. Their joy knew no bounds because seeing is believing, the beautiful complex, named after a doyen of journalism in Nigeria, who is from Bayelsa as well, Ernest Ukoli, was standing imposingly before them.
Diri, looking completely happy, Iyorcha Ayu, National chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and other stakeholders in a success story were all smiling and ecstatic at the dancers, ever so frequently, glancing at the complex in appreciation of the state government.
Ayiba Crowther Duba, the State Commissioner for Information Orientation and Strategy, said the complex consisted of 248 offices, a library, conference halls, six studios, an ICT centre, a Printing Press as well as a restaurant. It will accommodate the Bayelsa State owned Radio and Television stations as well as Newspaper Corporation.
Governor Diri, a huge and well-built fellow, then invited Senator Iyorcha Ayu, to inaugurate the complex. Ayu said that Diri’s respect and knowledge of the importance of the media informed his decision to make a difference in the working environment of the press.
Ayu, like a father of a successful child, said all the P.D.P Governors were performing well and referring to the Party’s victory in the FCT election, said “we shall win the presidency come 2023, because we are performing”
Other projects inaugurated by the state to mark its two years in office included a 4.8 km Igbedi Road, a lecture hall and laboratories at the State owned Medical University, Igbogene-Okarki Road and a transport terminal building.
The two week activities, marking the mid-term performance of the state government culminated in what they called a historic drive to Angiama/Flag of the construction of Oparoma bridge which was performed by Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, the commissioning of Elebele and Nembe Unity Bridges by former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The activities attracted most of the PDP Governors, including Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Nyeson Wike, of Rivers Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
