The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists l(NUJ), has carefully reviewed the trajectory of the state under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori over the past two years.

The milestones achieved within this period are well-documented and reflect commendable progress across several critical sectors.

‘MORE’ MILESTONES IN TWO YEARS

From the implementation of the new minimum wage, regular payment of workers’ salaries, to pensioners to women and youth empowerment initiatives; infrastructure projects – roads, drains, bridges, and flyovers – as well as sustained peace-building efforts; the administration has demonstrated capacity and commitment to governance.

For these, the Council commends the Governor for acceding to the expectations of many and proving opponents wrong, who might have underestimated his ability to deliver on his administration’s “MORE” Agenda.

MORE AGENDA AND HOW IT AFFECTS JOURNALISTS IN DELTA

We acknowledge and appreciate the 100% increase in stipends to some journalists across the state. Though modest, this gesture signals a recognition of the media’s vital role in promoting democracy and development.

However, this gesture has not assuaged expectations of Journalists in Delta State. The NUJ Delta Council calls for a greater responsiveness in the area of media engagement and public accountability.

Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) mandates the Press to hold public officers accountable to the people.

In a functional democracy, effective governance cannot thrive without deliberate and transparent communication with the media. Unfortunately, under the current administration, media engagement has been largely selective, inconsistent, and insufficiently structured.

While His Excellency has received awards and recognitions from some media organisations, such accolades, though notable, cannot replace institutionalised, statewide media dialogue and open access of the State Chief Executive to local journalists, covering the day to day activities of government.

Past administrations, especially under Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, demonstrated strong media relations by institutionalising quarterly press briefings and media parley sessions that created platforms for open, direct interaction between journalists, the governor and government officials. While Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa made modest efforts in this regard, his administration lacked the consistency and broader inclusion needed to sustain such engagement.

This time last year, we had felicitated the present administration in a national newspaper advertorial as an extension of Union’s goodwill. One year after, we cannot see any reciprocation in form of engagement with the media.

We are concerned that the current administration has allowed this tradition to lapse, thereby widening the gap between the government and the organised media. If left unaddressed, this could have adverse consequences for public trust and how the administration is ultimately assessed in the annals of history.

Let it be made clear: this intervention is not driven by animosity or self-interest, but by a genuine desire to see the government succeed in deepening democratic ideals. It is an objective and professional reflection of our constitutional responsibility as the Fourth Estate in Government.

The good news is that it is not too late. The Governor has both the time and the opportunity to recalibrate his media engagement strategy. We urge His Excellency to embrace a more transparent, inclusive, and constitutionally aligned approach, anchored on regular, state-wide press interactions via live broadcasts, radio, television, and physical briefings involving journalists across all media platforms.

As a Council, our mission is not to confront, but to constructively chart a course that advances both governance and journalism in Delta State. We are ready to partner with the government in building a vibrant culture of openness, accountability, and mutual respect between the state and the media.

E-Signed:

Comrade Churchill Oyowe
Chairman

Comrade Victor Sorokwu
Secretary

By Edherezi Eremutha

I have finally concluded that Onowakpo has pride and a very dislikable-egoistic disdain for the Isoko people which he partly represents at the national assembly as a senator.
And I am not surprised about the Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) President’s remarks and personal encounters with him, senator Joel Onowakpo, because after the declaration of the 2023 election results, a very close ally but now distanced friend of Senator Onowakpo made a disturbing comment about the distinguished senator in an exclusively private meeting that I was privileged to be seated-in.
He said “Onowakpo na very ‘proud’ man ooo”; that, this one wen dem come declare am winner so, naim be say na another feather of pride and pomposity dem don add to him shoulders so ooo”.
You may say the above statement came from one of his haters. But deep down, the man in question was one of his greatest supporters and mobilizers.
Ironically, I have personally enjoyed several benefits just because of shouting “Isoko kweke” in a public transit, in 2018, in a faraway land!
For speaking Isoko alone in another man’s land, I was redeployed to a more beffiting office, not that the current office I was featuring in was bad in it’s true sense. But the lady then said, for me to interact in her mother’s tongue in an environment where everyone was busy constructing phonetics of all kinds just to belong, that I deserve better. She was in-charge of one of the leading departments in that organization.
It is good to quickly notice that Nigeria is a highly tribalistic society. We must learn to accommodate ourselves in strange lands no matter what.
Sometimes, just a smile from your tribe’s man in an unusual terrain can make your whole day with good memories and that could also end up meaning a lot to the receiver of your smiling atmosphere.
I never knew that lady from anywhere. She just swung into action because she heard me communicating to my friend on the phone with Isoko language.
Lastly, those of you close to Onowakpo should start talking to him now to turn a new leave because 2027 is not far.
Advise him to forget about all those unnecessary endorsements he is getting here and there and plant his focus on the real deal why he was sent out to represent the senatorial district.
That, come 2027, even a minute may cause him wonders with this ungodly public behaviour that he is already exhibiting.