Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has said journalists should not allow themselves to be cowed or silenced in the face of intimidation, but to always speak truth to power.
Makinde in a message at a retreat organised by members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Press Corps, stated that for 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 the opposition.
He reminded them the statement of French Judge, Baron De Montesquieu, 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,” he said.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief Secretary Dr Sulaimon Olarewaju, advised the media to stand up to those in power and put them in check in the interest of democracy and democratisation.
He reminded journalists that development is a consequence of the pursuit of public interest, adding that “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.”
According to him, the role of the media in fostering transparency and development in a multi-party democracy is simple, to hold public office holders accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest and hold its members accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest.
The governor disclosed that Oyo State governor has a feedback system that enables the citizens to ask questions on all its 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,” Makinde added.
He said the administration established the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), which has the mandate to investigate cases of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
Chairman of PDP Press Corps Samuel Ogidan said as watchdogs of democracy, journalists have the responsibility to ensure accurate and transparent reportage.
According to him, “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.”
He explained that the retreat was to sharpen the skills of journalists reporting PDP as well as engage them in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism in Nigeria.
