The Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration has indicated its resolve to partner online media practitioners as well as the traditional media in advancing the state, Adebayo Lawal, Deputy Governor of Oyo state, has said.
Lawal, who is currently acting as the state governor following the one-month transmission of power to him by his principal, gave the assurance at the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Thursday while receiving members of the South West Group of Online Publishers.
Describing online media as an important element in the modern world, the acting governor said that the place of media could not be undermined or ignored as journalists are purveyors of credible information and voice of the voiceless.
According to him, the immediacy that the new media conveys has changed the phase of journalism.
He, however, urged the online publishers to rise up to the task of meeting their obligations by, among other things, advising and calling government’s attention to issues bothering on the development of the state.
Lawal said that “Our doors are open; we will always welcome your ideas and constructivecriticisms.”
He tasked online media practitioners on the need to focus on developmental journalism, stressing that they should ensure that well investigated, verified and balanced reports were published.
Olayinka Agboola, Chairman of SWEGOP, said in his speech on the occasion that the essence of the visit was to congratulate Lawal on his appointment as the Deputy Governor.
While lauding the efforts of the current administration on infrastructural development, Agboola said, “We must not fail to point the government’s attention to issues of refuse disposal and that of insecurity.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that the Federal Government has its own giant share of the blame, Makinde’s government still needs to be more pragmatic in this respect.”
