Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde on Thursday charged the media to be alive to their responsibilities as watchdog of the society by keeping watch on the ruling party to prevent it from using its power to stifle democracy by crippling opposition.
Governor Makinde gave the charge in his address at the opening ceremony of a 3-day retreat organised by the Press Corps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, held at House 11 Hotel, Jericho, Ibadan.
The retreat has as its theme: ” Role of the Media in Fostering Transparency and Development in a Multi-party Democracy”.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Chief Press Secretary CPS, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju underscored the role of the media in standing up to those in power and to put them in check in the interest of democracy and democratisation
” It is imperative that the media must stand up to those in power and put them in check in the interest of democracy and democratisation.
“For a multi-party democracy to thrive, the media owes the society the responsibility of keeping watch on the ruling party to prevent it from using its power to stifle democracy by crippling opposition.
” Remember French Judge, Baron De Montesquieu, warned that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is, therefore, a key function of the media and a task that must be done, that you prevent the absolutism of the ruling party or the majority party.
.” In this regard, you have been doing well. But you must strive to do better. Do not allow yourselves to be cowed or silenced at this trying period. I encourage you to speak truth to power and to project our great party, the PDP, as its partners in progress. You know what we represent and having walked with us for so long, you must have been convinced that the PDP is the only platform that can bring genuine development in our nation”, he said
While describing the media as the fulcrum of the society and a bridge between the people and the government
,Governor Makinde emphasized the need for the media to keep the political class and other members of the society on their toes.
“The media is supposed to hold those in government accountable on behalf of the people. Public offices are held in trust for the people, so they must be run in the interest of the public. It is only when those holding public offices are held accountable that public interest is served. It is then that we have transparency.
“So, in this context, transparency is the pursuit of public interest. But there is a flipside; do journalists seek accountability for altruistic or pernicious reasons? Are they public-spirited or vindictive? Are they pursuing personal agenda or championing the cause of a paymaster? Do they pursue sectional or national interest? To come to equity your hand must not be soiled.
“The media must ensure that its platforms are not controlled only by those in power or those who have the wherewithal. Just like the public office is held in trust, the public space, which the media controls, is also held in trust for the people by media practitioners.
“Just as the public office holders should not abuse the trust, media practitioners should not also abuse or misuse the trust.
“Development is a consequence of the pursuit of public interest. When all sectors of the society pursue public interest, there will be development. We cannot have sustainable development without the pursuit of public interest on a sustained basis.
“So, for me, the role of the media in fostering transparency and development in a multi-party democracy is simple: hold public office holders accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest and hold its members accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest.
“In Oyo State, we have a feedback system that enables the citizens to ask questions on all our activities. The platforms are regularly monitored and concerns are addressed as much as possible. Sometimes we tweak our decisions based on the feedback we get. We have emplaced a system of ensuring transparency in our operations as much as possible.
“My administration established the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), which has the mandate to investigate cases of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
” We also established the Project Monitoring Agency, which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the state gets value for its money. All of these are targeted at ensuring that as much as it is practicable, we run a transparent administration.
Earlier In his welcome address, the Chairman of the PDP Press Corps, Samuel Ogidan noted that the tasks before journalists in the evolving political have never been more crucial and challenging than now.”
Ogidan described Governor Makinde as a media-friendly governor who understands the role of free and responsible journalism in strengthening democracy, fostering transparency and empowering citizens.
According to him, as journalists covering politics, we serve as watchdogs of democracy. Our responsibility is immense, and so are the pressures and obstacles we face. The fast pace of political events, the complexity of governance, and the shifting nature of public opinion demand that we stay sharp, informed, and adaptable.
“This retreat provides the much-needed pause from our daily grind, giving us the space to reflect on our craft, sharpen our skills, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism in Nigeria.
“We all know that investigative journalism remains a cornerstone of political reporting. It is our responsibility to dig deeper and uncover the truth that is often buried beneath layers of bureaucracy and deception.
“However, the resources and time needed for thorough investigations are often scarce.
“During this retreat, we will focus on sharpening our skills in investigative reporting, learning new techniques, and how best to utilize available tools. We will delve into methods of fact checking stories, authenticating sources, and data to ensure that we remain the trusted voice our audiences rely on for political analysis and updates.
It is also important to note that social media has revolutionized how news is shared and consumed. While it provides an opportunity for us to reach wider audiences quickly, it also presents new challenges. During this retreat, we will explore how to use social media platforms responsibly to break news, amplify reports, and engage with readers while maintaining professional standards.
“Our goal is that each of us leave here better equipped to navigate the challenges of journalism and continue upholding the values of integrity. accuracy, and objectivity in our reports.
He urged participants to take advantage of the retreat for frank discussions that will open networking opportunities ahead. “This retreat is for our growth, our reflection, and our empowerment” he said
In their goodwill messages, Assistant Director, Publicity of the PDP Press Corp, Richard Ihediwa and Mrs Gloria Thomas of the Voice of Nigeria, both lauded the initiative promising to make best use of the opportunity of the retreat to acquire new skills and develop better capacity for the task ahead.