OSOGBO — Two Commissioners in Osun State have pledged open door access and partnership with professional online journalists as the Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun Council commenced familiarity visits to Ministries in the state.
The Commissioners for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Abiodun Bankole, and Lands and Physical Planning, George Ibitayo Alabi, gave the assurance when the leadership of the Chapel led by its Chairman, Isa Isawade, visited their Ministries in Osogbo.
At the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Bankole said online media has become pertinent because social media has become a menace, and challenged the Chapel to take responsibility for filtering fake news and upholding professionalism.
He said the onus lies in the hands of the chapel to filter the situation appropriately, stressing that it is what you sell that is known.
Bankole, who noted he was on his way to Ile-Ife for the unveiling of sponsors for the Olojo Festival, encouraged investigative journalism, recalling his disappointment over a one-sided report against him in the past. He urged the Chapel to embrace diligence and dedication and to freely criticize his Ministry where necessary, promising to work with the body.
Speaking on the recent election in the state, the Commissioner said the victory was God-given and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for being true and fair. He disclosed that his 15-year-old son had congratulated him after the voting exercise when 70 percent victory had been recorded, only for IREV to stop working afterwards, adding that INEC could easily have manipulated the process but did not.
He said the last election was not about promise campaign but proof of activity campaign, noting that while the past administration for its eight years did unmaintainable projects, the present administration has executed people-oriented projects. He thanked Osun people for the support.
At the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, Commissioner Alabi said he has been observing the activities of the Online Media Chapel and is impressed with work done so far.
He declared open door access to himself and staff of the Ministry, welcomed criticism and observations, and promised partnership with the Chapel.
Alabi revealed that the present administration has generated the highest Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, in the history of Osun State, attributing it to plugging excesses, curbing unnecessary spending and fighting corruption within the system. He spoke of personal temptations and juicy offers he had received as Commissioner to bend the rules or cut corners, and thanked God for remaining steadfast, saying his determination to do right was driven by his desire to maintain his integrity.
Earlier, Chapel Chairman Isa Isawade congratulated both Commissioners and explained that the Chapel was created due to the influx of unprofessional users of online media. He said the Chapel will serve as a bridge between the public and the authentic media and sought support and partnership for culture and tourism development and for orderly land administration.
Isawade assured the Commissioners that the Chapel will not disappoint in its responsibility to promote responsible journalism.
Group photographs were taken at both Ministries to mark the visits.
