Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Thursday, tasked media practitioners in Nigeria to engage more in investigative journalism and not shirk their responsibility as watchdogs, agenda setters and drivers of development in society.
Gov. Diri made the call while declaring open the first ever media summit organized by the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Yenagoa, with the theme: “Media, culture and identity: Promoting indigenous perspectives.”
The governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that journalists can contribute to the development of society by speaking truth to power through effective reportage and investigative journalism.
He recalled the critical role played by nationalists like Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoku, Dele Giwa and others, using journalism to fight for Nigeria’s independence, noting that investigative journalism has since lost its fervency in the country.
The governor identified what he calls “the carry-and-go” brand of journalism where quackery and unethical conduct looms large, as the major bane of contemporary journalism practice in the country.
He, therefore, called on all critical stakeholders to work towards achieving the goal of quality journalism that would not only be authoritative and fearless, but also credible and dependable.
Gov. Diri, while commending the current leadership of the state council of the NUJ for being innovative, highlighted his administration’s supportive role in the development of journalism in the state, including the building, completion and equipping of the iconic Ernest Ikoli Media Complex.
“Journalists have played a major role in our progressive development as a nation. Herbert Macaulay and others all used the media to fight against imperialism during the days of the nationalist struggle.
“But today, journalism is suffocating because of the carry-and-go journalism. Investigative journalism has virtually disappeared because only few journalists are actually doing investigative journalism. Let’s look at quality journalism at this point in time,” he said.
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Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, highlighted the vision, developmental strides and programmes of the Gov. Diri administration to achieve a better Bayelsa.
She underscored the role of the media to beam its searchlight on the transformation unfolding in Bayelsa State under the leadership of Gov. Diri, urging them to also portray the rich cultural heritage of the people of the state.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, noted that narratives shape the perception of reality, stressing the need for media practitioners to spotlight and preserve the heritage, languages and cultures of the various societies in the country.
Comrade Yahaya, who expressed joy over the media summit and the existing unity among journalists in the state, commended the state government for the huge infrastructural projects it had undertaken to transform Bayelsa.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, said one of the key objectives of the summit is to promote professional accountability in both the conventional mainstream media and the social media.
Thanking the state government and all stakeholders for their support, Comrade Yemoleigha, informed that the summit would be an annual event because of its capacity to effect a paradigm shift in the business of journalism in the state.
