By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo.
The Chairman, All Progressive Congress, APC in Osun State, Prince Adegboyega Famodun has charged journalists in the state to be up and doing and objective in their reportage of events.
Prince Famodun gave the charge during the reception organised for journalists as part of the activities to conclude this year, NUJ Press Week.
The Osun APC Chairman, who said that the press has a huge responsibility to launch the impetus for the progress of the state and Nigeria as a whole and accelerate the speed to outrun the bane of underdevelopment added that in the advanced democracies, vibrant press was essential to responsible and responsive government.
According to Prince Famodun who was highly elated for receiving journalists in the state, “There is no denying the fact that vibrant press, in the advanced democracies, is sine qua non to responsible and responsive government. I really want our press to always be objective in their day to day activities “.
While commending the entire journalists for objective reportage of events in Osun State, the APC Chairman, emphasized that Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration had nothing to hide from the people, hence the passage and domestication of the Freedom of Information law in the state; adding that this was aimed at strengthening accountability in public administration.
“The incumbent administration of Governor Oyetoa has deliberately put itself in the court of public opinion to make available to the public required information on how he administer the State and its resources” he said.
Prince Famodun who congratulated journalists in the state for this year Press Week however commended them for being alive to their responsibility of educating members of the public, holding government accountable and also commending government whenever it does the right things.
The APC Chairman also thanked the journalists for making him the host of the Church Service to conclude the activity of their week.
Earlier in his address, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu appreciated the APC Chairman in the state for honouring and hosting journalists.
Comrade Ajadosu who used the medium to congratulates Prince Famodun on his victory from the recently concluded APC State Congress assured him of journalists unalloyed support to his office while commending him as well on the achievements of the incumbent administration in the state.
