Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has poured encomiums on the Fancy Media Team (FMT) for maintaining high professional media conduct in their reportage before, during, and after the Kogi State governorship election.
Governor Ododo gave the commendation last night through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Comrade Oladele John Nihi during an elaborate interactive session with the leadership of the media team in Lokoja.
While commending the independent engagements of the team which he said partly led to the overwhelming victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, the Governor also eulogized Kogi State Auditor-General for Local Government, Hon. Siyaka Yakubu Adabenege for being the wonderful brain behind the formation of the team which houses many thorough-bred media practitioners.
“At the peak of the electioneering campaign last year, FMT was classical in their reportage. They did not engage in name-calling, vilification, and campaign of calumny against the opposition even in the face of provocation. The All Progressives Congress was able to win many converts with your style of reporting.
“We therefore seek your working collaboration with the new government in order to give credible news about government programmes and policies to the people,” he said.
The Governor used the opportunity to appeal to media professionals to work assiduously to win converts into the fold of the APC, noting that it was only through unity that the state could move forward.
The Chief Press Secretary on a personal note described Hon. Siyaka Yakubu Adabenege is a man of great positive virtue who has effortlessly personified humility with a profound touch of philanthropic gesture, adding that he sponsored the sinking of boreholes in many communities among other generous gestures which he shielded from press coverage.
He further revealed that the administration of Governor Ododo is in a hurry to deliver the much-anticipated dividend of democracy, which according to him, was the reason for the speedy nomination of credible personalities as cabinet members on the very day of his inauguration, who have all been screened by the State Assembly and sworn in.
“Governor Ododo truly appreciates the love showered on him since he began the journey to become the 5th executive Governor of Kogi State and he has promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the good people of Kogi State,” he added.
Responding, the representatives of the team assured the Governor and his media aides of their preparedness to work closely with the government to disseminate its activities to the public, fairly and objectively.
