Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged community newspaper publishers to speak to the conscience of the people by promoting the prevailing peace, unity and love in the state.
Governor Oborevwori, who gave the charge when the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Council, led by the State Chairman, Comrade Jude Obiemeyego visited him at Government House, Asaba, however appealed to the publishers not to incite the people against the government.
The governor urged the community newspaper publishers to abide by the ethics of the journalism profession by ensuring that rules guiding the profession were adhered to in their reportage.
He said community newspapers were key to information dissemination because of their closeness to the grassroots and urged the publishers to use their medium to unite the state further.
He said, “Community Newspapers are very key because of their closeness to rural communities. I enjoin you to be part of this administration. My doors are open and your members have access to this government.
“My advice is for you people to abide by the ethics of your journalism profession. Do not incite the people against the government through your reportage.
“Speak to the conscience of the people and always uphold and promote the prevailing unity and love in Delta State.
“We have worked together before and I want to assure you that we will continue to give quality leadership to the people of Delta”.
The Governor further said he would commence project inauguration across the three senatorial districts in the state to mark his administration’s first 100 days in office.
“We have also set up a committee to handle the palliative, where things will be distributed across the three senatorial districts, the Local Governments down to the wards. The Labour movement, Christian Association of Nigeria, PFN and others will be involved.
“We are following the palliative model of the COVID-19 era so as to get to the people at the grassroots.
“We have also set up a committee to handle the impending flood even though we are praying that the flood doesn’t come, but we are also preparing for it. We have informed our people living in flood prone areas to prepare to relocate,” he stated.
He told the publishers that they had been a pillar of support for him since he was Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly. “I am counting on your usual support and cooperation to propagate the policies and achievements of this administration.”
Earlier, Comrade Obiemeyego said they were at Government House to felicitate the Governor on his successful assumption of office and for the numerous achievements in his first 100 days in charge.
He commiserated with the governor on the passage of his mother-in-law, and said they were ready to collaborate with his administration in its drive to scale up the tempo of development in the state.
Comrade Obiemeyego urged the governor to provide quality and purposeful leadership in his determination to fulfil the M.O.R.E Agenda of his administration for Deltans, even as he called for the inclusion of journalists and publishers in the state as beneficiaries of the palliative programme of the state government.
He appealed to the governor to assist members of the association with a bus that would enhance their mobility, just as he also, solicited for the appointment of a member of the association as the Governor’s Media Aide on Community Newspaper.
