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.
“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
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE
HON SPEAKER
DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
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