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Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called on media practitioners to prioritize transparency and accountability in their roles as society’s watchdog, emphasizing the importance of holding political officeholders to account. Speaking at the opening of a three-day retreat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Press Corps, Makinde stressed that the media’s primary responsibility is to work in the public’s interest.
The retreat, held at Eleventh House Hotel and Suites in Ibadan, focused on the theme “Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy.” Represented by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor highlighted the vital role of the media in promoting societal development through transparency.
Makinde stated, “The media is the fulcrum of society and is supposed to hold those in government accountable. Transparency and accountability from public officeholders will result in development, which is the ultimate goal of the media and the wish of the society.”
He further urged the media to resist being influenced or controlled by those in power, while also ensuring that media practitioners themselves are accountable. This, he said, would guarantee that the media continues to serve the public’s interest and contribute to national development.
In his opening remarks, Samuel Ogidan, chairman of the PDP Press Corps, noted that the retreat aimed to equip journalists with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of political reporting, particularly in the era of digital media.
