By JOHNSON EBIGIDE
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has restated the resolve of the state government to continue to maintain the existing robust relationship with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state.
Aniagwu stated this when the Chairman of the state council of the NUJ, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, led a strong delegation of members of the union in a courtesy visit to him in his office in Asaba, the state capital.
The commissioner said that the state government had no intention of fighting any cold war with the union in the state as being speculated in some quarters, adding that the media would continue to be instrumental in the resolve of the Okowa Administration to finish strong in the state.
He frowned at some unfortunate publications insinuating that some sections of the media were being marginalised in the state, adding that the state government had no intention whatsoever to relate with the NUJ in the state in a divide-and- rule machination.
Aniagwu enjoined the leadership of the union in the state to continue to drum the message of accuracy in news reporting to its members as journalists to forestall offensive and falsehood in their bid to be unnecessarily sensational in their reportage, adding that such unguarded reportage could lead to untrustworthiness from the reading public when eventually discovered.
He disclosed that state government had done a lot in repositioning the state media outfits in the state, adding that the Press Centre of the union being built by the state government was 90 percent completed and would be delivered soon.
He enjoined Comrade Ikeogwu to continue to build lasting bridges of reconciliation with critical stakeholders of the union in the state and beyond, emphasising that there was much to be gained from unity of purpose of all members of the union in the state.
Earlier, Comrade Ikeogwu had said that the council had no hand in any publication that had embarrassed the state government over some gifts from it to media organisations in the state, adding that the union, even as the watchdog, was desirous of enhancing the realisation of the Stronger Delta vision of the Okowa Administration.
He commended the effort of the state government at transforming the state media outfits for effectiveness, adding that it was unprecedented.
Comrade Ikeogwu reminded the commissioner of his earlier promise to ensure an early completion of the union Press Centre along the Maryam Babangida Way in Asaba in the first quarter of the 2022 fiscal year, even as he noted that the level of the job done so far at the centre was heartwarming.
Present doing the visit were the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Paul Osahor; the Director of Publications and Production Services, Mr. Lucky Omokri; the Director of Information, Mrs Theresa Adiabua-Oliko; the immediate past Vice Present of the Zone F of the NUJ, Comrade Edward Ogude; the Vice Chairman of the council, Comrade Ogono Salvation; the Chairman of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel of the union, Comrade Dominic Adewole and very many members of his chapel, among others.