The Dr.Kayode Fayemi-led administration in Ekiti State has maintained an open-door policy in government activities, policies and prudent spending in the last two years, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode has said.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary stated this at a lecture organized by the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.
Oyebode who spoke on “Journalism and Sensationalism in a Tense Political Atmosphere” said Governor Fayemi has run the State in a transparent and accountable manner since his emergence in 2010; adding that aside the regular town hall meetings and media engagements where Fayemi explains how the State is run every month, the State website provides regular and updated information to citizens in Diaspora, as well as investors.
He stated that detailed information on contracts, legislations, budget and other government activities are available on the State’s Six-channel website:www.ekitistate.gov.ng which is the best Nigerian state government website according to Alexa.com, the world renowned web ranking site.
The Governor’s spokesman added that journalists in the State have no reason to write poorly investigated or unduly sensationalised news stories because of the pool of information made available by the State Government through different avenues.
Oyebode who cited the reports about alleged sack of 4,000 local government workers by some media outfits last year as an example of poorly investigated reports, said professional journalists should always seek clarifications based on the principles of journalism; stressing that the alleged sack was a mere figment of imagination of detractors.
Describing journalists as critical stakeholders in the political development of the country, the Chief Press Secretary stated that journalists cannot afford to shy away from their duty of nurturing the nation’s development, having laboured for its survival.
He urged journalists to shun partisanship and present facts and figures to the people in a professional manner and carefully chosen words that would stem tension which, according to him, is bound to increase as the State approaches 2014 gubernatorial elections.
Last modified: February 2, 2013