YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said that the media has a constitutional responsibility to guard and entrench the liberty of the society for the deepening of Nigeria’s democracy.
The governor, who stated this when the South-South Zonal Executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa on Saturday, commended the media for its effective role, as the watchdog of society.
While describing the press as a critical pillar put in place by the constitution, he commended the media for its role in bringing the Ese Oruru’s alleged abduction to the public knowledge.
Governor Dickson noted that the NUJ is the only professional body recognised by the constitution with the responsibility of holding the government and society accountable for any acts of misdemeanor.
He admonished public office holders to learn to put up with the inadequacies of the media, stressing that no system is perfect, as a bad media, was better than not having a media.
According to Hon Dickson, “a society that loses its media encourages dictatorship, and the government counts on the media to point out its faults and inadequacies.
In his opening remarks, the zonal Vice President of the union, Mr. Edward Ogude, commended Governor Dickson for his efforts at developing and transforming various sectors of the state.
While thanking him for the role he played in the release of the abducted Ese Oruru, Mr. Ogude described Hon Dickson as a media friendly governor.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the Governor to look into he issue of flooding at the state council secretarial of the NUJ, which has become a source of concern to the council and its members.
