NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
In furtherance of the cordial relationship between journalists and his administration, Governor Abdullahi Sule has identified with reporters in the State who have been ill for some time. “It is to appreciate the kind of support they are giving even when they are on their sick bed, they are still doing their best, writing features, you always see their by-lines. They write stories that have to do with Nasarawa State, particularly stories that have to do with the policies and programmes of the administration of His Excellency, Engineer A. A. Sule. That shows that they have the government in their minds. So, it will only be reasonable for the government to also show concern for their condition. That is why I am going around based on His Excellency’s directives in the company of the Chairman of the council,” Peter Ahemba, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs told a reporter in Lafia on Thursday after visiting the three journalists on behalf of his boss.
The SSA also applauded journalists in Nasarawa State for their partnership with the government to deliver on its policies and programmes. He promised the continued cooperation of the government at all times. “The government will continue to provide a conducive environment for them. it will continue to provide the security to protect them in the discharge of their editorial responsibility,” noting that it is the constitutional mandate of the reporters to keep the public abreast of events across the state and beyond. Hon. Ahemba equally encourages media practitioners to always bounce the facts they have with those of the relevant authorities, to avoid misinformation. He said the doors of the government are always open to reporters who desire information about the activities and actions of the government.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Salihu Alkali said the gesture is the first of its kind since he assumed office, four years ago. “I would like to appreciate Mr. Peter Ahemba, the Special Assistant to His Excellency. This is the first of its kind under my leadership – I am barely four here as Chairman of NUJ in Nasarawa State, for the governor to ask his Special Assistant to go from house to house to see members of NUJ, I think I am proud of that. We need to appreciate him, we need to support his policies and programmes geared towards the welfare of members of NUJ in Nasarawa State. And this gesture will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Isaac Ukpoju, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Nasarawa State, who was also part of the vising team. thanked God for the gift of life and Governor Sule for his humane gesture, especially at this point when the three journalists visited had been sick. “It takes somebody with vision, with foresight to do this kind of thing that he has done. So, all I can say is that we are grateful, and we will continue to appreciate him. We now know who our true friends are, and we will always have that at the back of our minds,” he said, while also thanking Hon. Ahemba and the Chairman of NUJ for exhibiting the true qualities of leadership.
In their separate responses, Mrs. Jamila Kassim of the State Ministry of Information, Cheke Emmanuel of New Telegraph Newspaper and Igbawase Ukumba of ThisDay Newspaper, respectively, thanked the governor for the visit, noting that it will be a moral booster to hasten their recovery. The newsmen promised to continue to do that