Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN CON, has charged journalists across the state to adhere strictly to the Ethics of the profession and shun political partiality in all they do.
The Governor stated this at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council 2023 Press Week Opening Ceremony and symposium held in Akure on Tuesday, 28th November, 2023.
Governor Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yeye-Oba Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, further charged newsmen to be interested in political ethics that governs how people make moral judgement about political actions.
He commended the journalists for being vibrant and for serving the people of Ondo State dutifully and diligently.
“For the media in politics, I know for a fact and Mr governor asked me to reiterate it that this media is particularly responsible and they have not taken any sides, they have been neutral and patriotic in reporting the news.
Their duty is to report what is happening in Ondo State to their various media organizations and they have been doing just that.
“So the governor asked me to commend them for a job well done,” She added.
In his remark, Chairman of the Council, Prince Leke Adegbite, said the annual Press Week is a tradition that is used to reflect on the performance of Journalists across the state during the year and evolve relevant strategies for better performance in years to come.
Adegbite highlighted the achievements of his administration in the last one year and applauded the government for supporting the Union.
He called for the restructuring and upgrading of government owned media organizations in Ondo State to enable journalists working in these organizations have fulfilling working careers.
Adegbite also charged the Federal Government to come up with special bailouts to rescue the federal media organizations across the nation.
The Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, congratulated the Union on the celebration and urged it to continue to do its best.
The Royal Father of the day and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo applauded the Union for sustaining the media in times like this and encouraged them to continue the good work.
Speaking at the event, Engr Ifeoluwa Oyedele, who was represented by Hon. Awe Joseph, said the media is a free media which is supposed to represent the people and not to take sides.
Awe charged the media to relate with the people and also relate with the government effectively as the fate of Ondo State lies in their hands.
He urged them to be balanced, truthful, unbiased, peacemakers, and advisors to whoever is in government.
Another speaker, Hon. Abayomi Sheba, who was represented by Hon. Henry Akinriboya, highlighted the roles of journalists and urged them that they should stand up for the responsibilities that they have been known for.
He lamented that the media is now full of inconsistencies and the government is not giving freedom to the press to speak the truth.
He mentioned that the media is too quiet about the happenings in Ondo State and appealed to the media to be the conscience of the society and speak the truth.
