Criticism ’ll put govt on its toes, Adetimehin tells journalists
By Mary Agidi
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The Ondo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Ade Adetimehin has charged journalists to engage the government in constructive criticism when the need arises in order to awaken government to do the best for the citizens.
Adetimehin stated this at the Press Centre, Alagbaka-Akure while hosting members of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists to a special GET-TOGETHER to celebrate the new Executives of the union.
According to him, if journalists criticise the current administration constructively, it would put the government on its toes to deliver as expected.
He noted that the impacts of any government cannot be felt by the masses without the full support of journalists.
The APC chairman, however solicited the support and cooperation of journalists for the state government by projecting its activities in order to achieve success, and also pledged the support of the government for the union at all times.
He noted that the stability of any government depends on the stability of the union, describing the media as an important segment of the society through which the citizens can assess the government.
“I don’t think any government or political leader can make headway or succeed without the media’s support.
If you are doing laudable projects as a government and you don’t get necessary publicity from journalists, people will be thinking or believing such government is not performing.
“We plead with you to continue to support our performing governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, give his laudable projects more publicity.
Everybody is commending him over massive roads construction, his efforts in the health sector, and rehabilitation of schools’ structures”, he said.
Adetimehin congratulated members of the union for the successful conduct of its recent election and urged Journalists to support the new officers for overall growth of the union.
In his remark, Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Tayo Ogunleye pledged the support of labour leaders to the new NUJ leadership to succeed.
Also, the newly-elected NUJ chairman, Mr Adetona Aderoboye described the event as an opportunity to come together after a long break, affirming that NUJ is back again in the state.
He saluted the doggedness and perseverance of members throughout the trying period, and assured that the new executives would deliver on their electioneering promises to uplift the union.
Appreciating the role and support of the APC chairman for the union, Aderoboye noted that the union would ensure that its members report the state government’s activities adequately and objectively, adding that journalists have significant roles to play in the political and social-economic development of the nation.
Dignitaries at the event included, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gboyega Adefarati, General Manager of Radio Nigeria Positive 102.5 FM, Mr Tunde Abiodun and his counterpart in NTA, Mr Segun Ojelade, the State JNC chairman, Abel Oloniyo; National Deputy President of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Sunday Adeleye; while other labour unions were represented by their state chairmen and secretaries.
