The Immediate past governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, faces more trouble as Journalists in the state go tough with him and his media aides, over the unbearable attitudes displayed towards them during his administration.
It was gathered that the Okowa-led administration wasn’t fair to journalists based on the lackadaisical attitude and poor treatment given to them.
The gentlemen of the press accused Okowa and his media aides of playing a divide-and-rule game among the media practitioners in the state.
In a Communique’ issued on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at the well-attended emergency Congress of Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), held at the Chapel Secretariat in Asaba, the State capital, the Chapel pointed out that the media aides of the former governor failed woefully in the discharge of their duties.
According to the Communique’, “Congress in session frowns at the divide and rule attitude of his media managers, which seemingly made a select few chapels superior to others
“Congress-in-session notes with dismay, that over the years, the indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel which is the strategic link between government and the grassroots, has consecutively and flagrantly been marginalized in the scheme of things, especially in the coverage of major government activities.
“Congress-in-session condemns strongly, in one voice, our denial of benefits assured us by immediate past Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, CON, due to the deliberate inaction of the former Governor’s media managers.
“Going forward, Congress in session, appealed for equal treatment from the present administration’s media managers, judging from our very strategic role as community-based media in Delta. Even our brand new Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori is described as a man of EXCESSIVE LOCAL CONTENT, just like the indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel!
“Congress-in-session commends His Excellency Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, for appointing one of our finest veterans, Sir Festus Ahon, as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS). We pledge to cooperate with him in the area of dissemination of information on the government’s policies and programs.
“Congress-in-session passionately appeals to His Excellency the Governor, to kindly consider appointing a member of the indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel as part of his media team, to oversee the affairs of community-based media in Delta State”, the Communique’ stressed.
