By Myke Uzendu
In the face of social media distortortion of traditional information dissemination channels, Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has tasked journalists to hold political office holders accountable and pursue public interest at all times.
He said the media is supposed to hold those in government accountable on behalf of the people, adding that it is only when those holding public offices are held accountable that public interest will be served.
In his welcome address at the Opening Ceremony of a 3-day retreat by the Press Corps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the theme: “Role of the Media in Fostering Transparency and Development in a Multi-Party Democracy”, on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governor said that media practitioners must put political class and other members of society on their toes.
The governor, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olarewaju, said that for a 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 opposition.
He said, “The media also connects the world; it connects the people to the government and the government to the people. So, the media is a bridge. It also mirrors the society to the government and government to the people.
“While all these functions of the media are important, I think the most critical of them is its role as the watchdog. As the society’s watchdog, the media keeps the political class and other members of the society on their toes. The media is supposed to hold those in government accountable on behalf of the people. Public offices are held in trust for the people, so they must be run in the interest of the public. It is only when those holding public offices are held accountable that public interest is served. It is then that we have transparency”.
He said that the media space must not be hijacked by the political class maintaining that media practitioners are holding the public space in trust for the people.
“The media must ensure that its platforms are not controlled only by those in power or those who have the wherewithal. Just like the public office is held in trust, the public space, which the media controls, is also held in trust for the people by media practitioners. Just as the public office holders should not abuse the trust, media practitioners should not also abuse or misuse the trust.
“Development is a consequence of the pursuit of public interest. 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”.
He said that the media has a very important role to play in a multi-party democracy.
“The role of the media in fostering transparency and development in a multi-party democracy is simple: hold public office holders accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest and hold its members accountable to ensure the pursuit of public interest”.
He said that his administration uses the public space responsibility to ensure economic growth and transparency in Oyo State.
“In Oyo State, we have a feedback system that enables the citizens to ask questions on all our 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”.
Reeling out some of the achievement of his administration to ensure transparency and open governance he continued,
“My administration established the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), which has the mandate to investigate cases of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. We also established the Project Monitoring Agency, which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the state gets value for its money. All of these are targeted at ensuring that as much as it is practicable, we run a transparent administration”.
He said that it is imperative that the media stand up to those in power and put them in check in the interest of democracy and democratisation.
Also in his opening remarks, the Chairman of PDP Press Corps, Samuel Ogidan urged journalists to use the rare opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary skills that will enable them to face the challenges posed by the social media to responsible journalism.
“Our responsibility is immense, and so are the pressures and obstacles we face. 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.
“This retreat provides the much-needed pause from our daily grind, giving us the space to reflect on our craft, sharpen our skills, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism in Nigeria.
“It is also important to note that social media has revolutionized how news is shared and consumed. While it provides an opportunity for us to reach wider audiences quickly, it also presents new challenges. During this retreat, we will explore how to use social media platforms responsibly to break news, amplify reports, and engage with readers while maintaining professional standards”.
