A member of the State Transition Committee and Director General of the disbanded State PDP Campaign Council, Honourable Funkekeme Solomon, has spoken strongly against the spreading of fake news by some media practitioners.
Honourable Solomom, who was interacting with journalists in Asaba as part of activities for the celebration of his 57th Birthday, said it was sinful to lie against anyone, adding that the repercussions could catch up with the peddlers or members of their families.
He called on newsmen to always verify and balance their stories before going to press, stressing that criticism must be constructive and not in bad faith.
The former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and one time Commissioner for Works decried the obvious abandonment of community news by present day journalists, describing it as a threat to the social responsibility role of the media.
Honourable Solomon noted that a lot was happening in the rural areas that needed to be brought to the attention of government and indeed the world through the media, insisting that journalists must learn to leave their comfort zones and penetrate the rural and riverine communities in search of human angle and developmental stories.
He commended media practitioners in Delta state for their role before and during the electioneering campaigns, pointing out that the press helped to market the SMART Agenda of the Okowa administration by reporting the giant strides of government while at the same time drawing attention to areas that government needed to improve upon.
The Ojobo born politician noted that the Campaign Council where he served as Director General observed during the campaigns that Governor Okowa had won the hearts of many Deltans and other residents of the state with his good works, culminating in his general acceptance which translated to the overwhelming victory of the PDP, even in the stronghold of the opposition.
Honourable Solomon said he was impressed with the level of professionalism exhibited by the media in the coverage of the 2019 general elections in the state and assured that the second tenure of Governor Okowa would work towards building a stronger Delta state where greater equity, fairness, justice, peace, unity and progress would be reasonably felt by all.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Aniagwu and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Orientation Barrister Eugene Uzum, were present at the interactive session.
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