He said the independence of the Press is very important in a growing society, urging the Press to try as much as possible to inform appropriately even in the face of all pressures.
Okowa, who stated this at the inauguration of the new secretariat of Delta State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Asaba, yesterday, added: “The media must ensure that the information that gets out there to our people is the right information and that information is justiciable at every point in time.
“The Press can always stand their ground. Sometimes, politicians or other people can put you under pressure, but I believe that the Press can always stand their ground as long as you know that you have done your investigation and that what you are speaking about is actually true.”
The governor commended the media for adequate reporting of government activities and for appropriately informing the public on its activities, expressing appreciation to the NUJ in the state for the cordial relationship between it and the state government.
Okowa noted: “This building is seated on very prime land and I thank God for that because the Press deserves that. The more you inform and the more educated the people are, the more functional our democracy.”
He said his administration has done well in transforming the state, in spite of criticisms from the opposition, insisting that he has done a lot in the last seven years, except for those who still want to doubt, even while they can see.
He continued: “These are people who do not want to speak the truth because of politics. Recently, I heard one of our top politicians in the state who ought to know, said we have done nothing in Asaba, the state capital, and I began to wonder why people who are highly placed speak in that manner and try to deceive the people.
“It’s very insulting to the people and not to me because they know what Asaba was before. We know what has been done to ensure that we are able to control the stormy water that we had in this state.
“You may not see all the drains because it’s not on the surface, but we know how many billions of naira it cost us to ensure that people have livable homes.”
Earlier, NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo, commended Okowa for encouraging Press Freedom by improving the working condition of journalists in the state.
He said a free, independent, vibrant, objective and nationalistic Press was a critical pre-condition for good governance in a democracy.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the state council of the union, Michael Ikeogwu, also commended Okowa for breaking the 31-year jinx by completing and inaugurating the Press Centre since the state was created.
“You have given us a name and identity; you have taken us out of Egypt to our promised land. You have put an unquenchable smile on the faces of members and defeated the imagination of naysayers praying that we continue to wander as nomads.
“That you completed the building project would have given us enough reason to celebrate, but going ahead to tastefully furnish the Centre is another monumental achievement that must be counted for your administration,” he stated.
