I will not be deterred by sponsored media attacks - Aregbesola

Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration will not be deterred in its resolve to take the state to an enviable height, despite sponsored media attacks on his person and government.


The governor, who hosted reporters at a fast-breaking dinner, tagged: “Iftar with Ogbeni”, at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Osogbo, said his administration remained firm in its commitment to making life meaningful for the people, despite attacks in a section of the media.

Aregbesola, who described journalism as a noble profession, urged journalists to make professionalism their watchword.

He said they should verify the authenticity or otherwise of information at their disposal before going to press.

The governor, who noted sponsored attacks and abuses in the media, done to pull down his administration and discredit his person, said if truth had been given its place over the years, newspapers would not malign his administration.

He admonished journalists to champion truth, fact, balance and accuracy in whatever they do as the watchdog of the society, saying there is need for them to be conscious of whatever they present to the public.

Aregbesola said: “My joy tonight is that our state continues to survive despite the mischievous, desperate and malicious contents in some sections of the media against our government. Unfortunately, the media in recent times have portrayed our government as one of the worst in the country, whereas the reverse is the case.

“It has erroneously portrayed us as a famished state. About this time last year, it was as if heaven would fall. It was as if the world was collapsing in our state. What churches do normally became an opportunity to portray us as a famine-stricken state. One person even went to the extent of donating his wardrobe allowance.

“Everything was made to look as if people were dying on the streets. Recently, I still read in our papers that we are owing salaries, while the reverse is the case. I have decided to ignore such tantrums.

“Available records have shown that there is no iota of doubt that some journalists have demonstrated their hatred for us through their adamant disposition to falsehood, baseless and unfounded claims against our noble political voyage.

“I wonder why they find it difficult to display high sense of commitment to journalistic ethics and media professional code of conduct despite the conspicuous realities.

“The pertinent question is that whether or not the media assesses itself, facts must always be disseminated and reported, and it is on the basis of this we have always advised media experts to support the dissemination of reliable, accurate, objective, authentic, impersonal, non-sensational and factual news.”

Aregbesola reaffirmed his commitment towards the completion of projects, saying no stone would be left unturned to give the people the dividends of democracy.

He promised to continue on the template of good governance and pro-masses policies, saying “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”

The governor enjoined the people to support his administration by performing their civic responsibilities through the payment of taxes. In his view, unless governments seek alternatives to crude oil revenue, the future is bleak.

from Nigeria News. Your Nigerian Online News Source: Nigerianeye.com http://ift.tt/294j11z
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