Banner Online News

By Patrick Mgbodo

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, has emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity and the need for correspondents to seek the government’s side to stories. and refrain from misleading the public.

The commissioner who also cautioned against writing stories that mislead the public, spoke during a meeting with members of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), with a call also on journalists to support the MORE Agenda and sufficiently report the accomplishments of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

The state’s spokesman also promised to be fair in dealing with the journalists and doing his best to ameliorate some of their challenges so that they can work in a more conducive environment, even as he stressed support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda.

‘’Always seek the government’s side of the story. A one-sided story does not make you a good journalist. Do not be biased in your reportage; get our side of the story and if you do it, the partnership (you seek) will work but if you become one-sided it will not help the partnership.
‘’Stand by the truth. Do not add spices to a story because you want to sell your paper. Just tell the story the way it is. If you have gotten our (government) side of the story, you can balance it before publishing it.

‘’I do not want Governor Oborevwori to be under-reported. As the Commissioner for Information, I would like the whole world to see and hear of all his projects, policies and programmes. This is why the partnership with you (journalists) is very germane.
‘’The governor is doing very well and he is passionate about Delta State’s development. I am confident that he will outperform his predecessors because he is taking giant steps for us to know that he is working for the good of Deltans,’’ Dr. Osuoza said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ Asaba Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, among other things, appealed for the constant training of journalists to reduce frictions and aid the understanding of the MORE Agenda.

While congratulating the governor on his Supreme Court victory which reaffirmed his popular mandate during the 2023 governorship elections, the journalists sought platforms that would build cordial relationships with his administration.
‘’Despite the distractions, he (Governor Oborevwori) has remained focused and has continued to pursue his MORE Agenda,

“Now that the distractions are over, the state is geared towards speedy development and we (journalists) are the vendors and promoters of development,’’ Olannye said.