Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has hosted journalists from various media organisations in Gombe to the breaking of the Muslim Fast, Iftar Dinner, at the Government House.
The Governor said he considers media men/women as critical stakeholders in the development of the state, hence urged them to continue to report issues that are truthful, factual and ensure that they do not create unnecessary tensions in the state, especially with political activities now on.
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Governor Yahaya encouraged the journalists to promote politics, where divergent issues were treated in truth and without bitterness or causing violence.
“Our prayer is that, just as we also pray, may God give us the opportunity to carry out our functions effectively, because we both hope for the best for the society, for peace and development of the state and the country as a whole,” said Governor Yahaya.
He appreciated journalists practicing in the state, who through their reportage, had called his attention to some challenges facing people in the state, without which he would not have known.
He, however, said the positive aspects of his administration should be projected, while at the same time highlighting the challenges for the corresponding interventions.
Governor Yahaya prayed that the relations between the government and journalists in the state would grow stronger for the overall benefit of the state.
He promised to continue to create an enabling environment for them to practice their profession with ease, while promising to look into the challenges confronting journalists in the state, particularly as presented by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
The Deputy National President of the NUJ, Mr. Alhassan Yahaya, had earlier presented some of the challenges confronting the operations of the media in the state, such as the digitization of the state broadcast arm, provision of vehicles for some of the groups of the union for easy movement into the hinterlands, as well as the completion of the NUJ Press Centre.
“The place would be a rallying point for practicing journalists, to mingle and cross fertilise ideas in promoting the development of your administration in Nigeria. I want to sincerely appeal to you that if such a project is completed, it’s going to go a long way in making us proud and will compete favourably with our various sister states in Nigeria. Because Gombe State remains the only state without a befitting Press Centre,” said Mr. Yahaya.
He thanked the governor for appointing journalists to various exalted positions in his government, believing that such appointments would help in actualising his dream for a better Gombe State.
The NUJ Deputy National President, however, cautioned journalists in the state to be mindful of the political season, by ensuring factual and balanced reportage, not the one that provoke violence but promote and enhance the already established peaceful co-existence in the state.
He encouraged the governor to continue on the path of ensuring that the dividend of democracy trickle down to the grassroots, while challenging the journalists to also go deep into all the nooks and crannies of the state and project positive development being recorded, while also drawing the attention of the government on any challenges seen.
He said this would restore the dignity and reputation of journalists before the people of the state.
Similarly, the General Manager of the Jewel FM of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Garba Ubale Danbatta, also re-echoed the challenges of journalists in the state, particularly the issue of vehicular movement, saying their ability to reach everywhere would help them project Governor Yahaya’s achievements more and better.
Mr. Danbatta said such visits would make the work of the journalists easy and prevent speculations.
He promised, on behalf of practicing journalists in the state to give the administration of Governor Yahaya all the needed support.
He added that the work of the journalists in the state had been greatly enhanced, because of the cooperation of the Director-General, Press Affairs of the Government House, Mr. Ismaila Uba Misilli, who was also up and doing in providing the needed information. (VON)
