Media has a huge role to play in 2019 general elections – Wike

The Rivers State Government says Rivers State is a media-friendly environment.

The State Chief Executive, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike made this assertion while speaking at the 71st General Assembly of Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, 27th November, 2018.

Represented by His Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said “out of over 250 radio and television stations in Nigeria under your organization; over 25 of these stations are located in Rivers State”, noting that the State has provided the needed investors’ friendly environment for them to operate.

He said the State Government also embarked on a number of projects that positively impacted on the lives of people resident in the State which includes good road networks, bridges, jetties, schools, hospitals, markets amidst adequate security.

Governor Wike, however, regretted that some media houses do not present the true positions of events in Rivers State.

“They collaborate with the opposition to paint and present Rivers State in a bad light before the national and international communities. This is unbecoming of the media profession and grossly unfair and we call on BON to do the needful to bring such erring members to sanity”. Governor Wike stressed.

The Governor reminded BON that it has a great role to play in the upcoming 2019 General Elections, stressing that Prompt and accurate reportage of events would go a long way in curbing incidences of election rigging in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed who spoke through the Director of PR/Protocol in his Ministry, Sunday Baba expressed delight that the meeting came at the commencement of the 2019 electioneering campaigns, noting that under the guise of freedom of speech and information some people had disparaged individuals and institutions with fake news which according to him is counterproductive.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, John Momoh said it was a wakeup call for broadcasters to re-examine their roles and discern for themselves the next step forward in the complex space of the art of today’s broadcasting, noting that the General Assembly offers broadcasters another opportunity to do this which according to him is justified by the theme “Changing Media Landscape.”