The Speaker,
Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya has stressed the need for
media practitioners to be thorough and be armed with accurate facts and figures
in their investigative journalism.
He also asked them
to always project the image of the State in its true perspective to counter the
negative picture being presented by some individuals.
Igbuya who spoke
while receiving the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Award
of Excellence, in Legislative Competence and Exceptional Leadership in Asaba expressed disappointment at the actions of
some journalists in the state.
“Those with
sinister motives rush to online media to air their frivolous and malicious
publication because it provides cover for litigation. Saharareporters and The
Will should on their part check the veracity of news item before publishing.
They need to be mindful that true journalism is not a tool for witch hunting”
he said.
In a tone
suggestive of his condemnation for falsehood, the speaker said he was disturbed
when Trend; a new radio station aired the purported resignation or threat of
resignation of the managing director of DESOPADEC.
“There exist a
cordial relationship between the commission and the House of Assembly. The
commission is being run by a board saddled with the policy formulation of the
commission while the managing director and his management staff handle the
implementation. The appropriate place to tender any thought of resignation is
to the board, not the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. The
pressure over budget as speculated by the aforementioned media houses is purely
speculative. As I speak, the budget of the commission is not before the House.
I have not seen DESOPADEC budget” he emphasised.
He urged
journalists to stop engaging in acts inimical to the development of the state
and prevent themselves from being used by individuals and organizations that do
not mean well for Delta State.
“Some days ago, I
read a report in The Will and Saharareporters on the remittance of N325million
by council chairmen. You don’t make allegations that are unfounded. Because of
paucity of fund in the state, the allocation to councils has dropped
drastically. Some local government areas are in arrears of salaries to their
staff. Some of them do not have three million as allocation, let alone raising
N3million for the House of Assembly. In fact, my local government council got
N2.7 as allocation. So, how can a council that got N2.7million pay N3million?
Where will the chairman get the money? Some got zero allocation. Most local
governments are currently indebted to the federal government”
He observed that the
relevant agencies or the operators of these agencies particularly the Local
Government Chairmen, the ALGON Chairman, Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs or the House Committee Chairmen on Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs were not reached as to ascertain the veracity of the
information. These are public figures whose offices and telephone numbers are
in the public domain. A little, just a little sincere effort on the part of the
publishers would have revealed the true position of things.
“They did not
explore the necessary avenues to verify their twisted facts”.
To prevent denting
of image which false reports could create in the minds of the public, Igbuya
advised journalists to always verify their facts.
“Before
publishing or airing any story, please verify your facts. I am open to
investigation. Don’t write frivolous and unfounded stories. Always verify your
information. Journalists should not believe in hearsay. Somebody wants to
resign, or he is threatening to resign, the journalists should confirm the
story. He should be able to reach the person. I think that is what you call
balance reporting”.
“ As
professionals, you must ensure that quacks are not given room to destroy the
practice of journalism and bring your profession into disrepute in the state”
he advised
“I started as a councilor; I didn’t jump to
become Speaker. Some persons started from the top. I started from the bottom.
It took me a lot of time to get to where I am and I will not tolerate any
person who tries to drag my name to the mud” he added.
Similarly, the Chairman
of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON),
Delta State
chapter, Hon Itiako Ikpokpo
has dismissed the story, describing it as a stupid allegation.
“Who is making that kind
of stupid allegation? Did they see any money go from the councils to the
Speaker’s account? Whether they write one million stories, it is not true. I
try to run away from unnecessary allegations. First and foremost, I mean the
councils are in a very difficult position. Even the reporter didn’t have the temerity to
call me to confirm the allegation. Ask the said reporter, he has my three
numbers but he didn’t reach me over the issue” he said in Asaba.
HENRY
OVIE EBIRERI
08036977194
CHIEF
PRESS SECRETARY TO THE HON SPEAKER
DELTA
STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
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