Delta state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged journalists to combat fake news and misinformation by fact-checking for the truth before going to press.
Governor Oborevwori gave the charge, Monday, at the Press Week organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Delta State Council, in Asaba, with theme: “Imperative Of Proper Leadership Recruitment Process For Good Governance”.
Represented by his deputy, Monday Onyeme, Governor Oborevwori said journalists should consistently sustain the effort to find out the truth before going to press, saying it had become essential as more people could be inclined to listen to or read negative reports without bothering about their correct versions.
He commended journalists in the state for the cordial relationship they had accorded his administration and for organizing the Press Week which would further afford them the opportunity to arm themselves with the necessary knowledge in discharging their duties.
According to Oborevwori, “It is my joy to be in the midst of the cream of journalism practitioners in Delta State at this year’s Press Week. How nice it is to devote time to meet and cross- fertilize ideas both among yourselves and critical members of society!
“This way, you arm yourselves with greater knowledge to impact on your performances for the good of your profession and the society in general.
“I, therefore, commend the Nigerian Union of Journalists here in the state, for organising the Press Week and, more importantly, for bringing in notable persons to point the way forward.
“As an administration, we will like to commend journalists in the state for the cordial relationship between us. We have related in a very peaceful way and it is my sincere hope that, going forward, the relationship will be marked by greater understanding and mutual respect.
“It is in the interest of journalists to toe the lines of preserving the country as the stability of both the state and nation will always be at the centre of your practice.
“As a government, we are operating an open door policy. There are several layers of officials ready and willing to throw light on grey areas in fulfilling the MORE agenda that we have set for ourselves.
“Please, continue with the effort to find out the truth before going to press. This is particularly essential as more people will be inclined to listen to or read negative reports and may not bother to listen to or read the correct version of the story.
“Let the prevailing era of mutual respect continue to mark the relationship between journalists and the government.
“My administration is committed to engaging in policies and programmes that will enhance the economic and socio-cultural lives of our people. Let me not bore you with the list of projects we are so far executing or executed.
“We have, among others, been commited in 513 road projects, empowered 250,000 Deltans through the D-CARES programme, and more Deltans through the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“The flyovers and adjoining roads being handled by Julius Berger is going on speedily, a development that will open up Warri and Effurun for more investors, while we are committed to the one billion naira counterpart funding of the erosion control programme at Okpanam, in Oshimili Oshimili North Local Government Area.”
Continuing, he said, “here, we are working with understanding the performance of the Federal Government. We urge everyone supporting us to extend similar understanding to the government of President Bola Tinubu.
“We should, at all times, guard against anything capable of destabilising our dear country or state. As journalists, you should always have patriotic consciousness to write stories and articles that bind us together.
“Whether in mainstream or the social media sphere, bear in mind that we have no other country we can call our own. We should, therefore, tailor our activities towards building a stronger nation, more united people and a stable polity.”
In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Press Week, an erudite scholar, Christopher Biose, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, and the member representing Oshimili South, Barr Bridget Anyafulu, described journalists as nation builders whose works were critical for sustainable peaceful development.
Earlier, the state Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, said the theme of the 2024 Press Week underscored the critical need for transparent and credible electoral processes, believing that such process would ensure that those who occupied political positions were truly representatives of the people.
Oyowe said when leaders were genuinely elected by the people, they were bound to serve the people with integrity and dedication, saying journalists must play the role to inform, educate and hold accountable, those in positions of power and authority.
