*NUJ Commiserates With Asaba Community Over Asagba’s Death
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, has called on journalists to shift attention from politics to governance, even as stressed the indispensability of the media in the success of democratic governance.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 14, when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, in his office in Asaba, Osuoza charged the leadership of the Council to mobilise its members in synergy with the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration’s desire to deliver on the MORE Agenda for Deltans.
“You as journalists would agree that Oborevwori has start well and is on course after all the challenges and hurdles of elections and the courts. The governor is very well disposed to the media and knows the administration needs you to succeed. We need this synergy and partnership for mutual benefit,” he stated.
The commissioner frowned at what he called “yellow journalism,” charging journalists to be objective in their reportage and constructive in their criticisms and charged the leadership of Council to articulate its programmes and projects to positively impact members and the state in general.
Chairman of the Council, Mr. Churchill Oyowe, said NUJ was keenly interested in moving the state forward with the MORE Agenda, even as he stressed the role of the press in holding the government accountable for development and as a bridge between the people and government.
Oyowe described the relationship between the press and government as symbiotic, saying the media cannot function effectively without a harmonious working relationship with government.
He stressed the importance of quarterly media interaction with the governor to curb speculations, misinformation and disinformation of the public, saying journalists were not aware of some of the development strides of the administration across the state, as periodic facility tour would help to acquaint the journalist with factual information dissemination.
He also underscored the importance of yearly ministerial press briefing to highlight the activities of the different ministries as it relates to the MORE Agenda, pledging the cooperation of the 532 journalists in the state to assist government succeed in marketing the MORE Agenda.
MEANWHILE, the NUJ has commiserated Asaba community and Anioma nation on the death of Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien, whose passage was announced on Tuesday, February 12, by the palace.
The Council, in a statement signed by Oyowe and State Secretary, Mr. Victor Sorokwu, said: “We are indeed deeply affected by the news of the passage of the royal sage, who bestrode the medical profession like a colossus and left his footprints in the global field of medicine as the first African, nay black Dean of Medicine.
“Until his demise at the age of 100 years, he was a global icon and remained the first and oldest professor in his field of medicine.
“The unprecedented peace, harmony and development pervading in and around Asaba, the capital of Delta State, cannot be extricated from his sublime approach to traditional administration, making Asaba the most peaceful, hospitable and habitable home for all.
“As a very enlightened and urbane personality, he was able to interface with state authorities without compromising the relevance of the traditional institution since his installation as the 13th Asagba 34 years ago; a year before the creation of Delta State.
“He truly led his people of Anioma ethnic stock like a true and faithful shepherd leading from the front and ensuring they were properly factored in national and state politics.
“Indeed, the passage of Edozien has created a huge vacuum in the socio-cultural and political life of Asaba and Anioma nation, as his contributions would be pretty difficult to replace.”
