Sam Philip
Media practitioners in the country have been charged by Governor, Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to ensure they hold public officeholders accountable for their performance in office.
He said public officeholders must be transparent in discharging their duties for benefit of the public.
Makinde made the call on Thursday at the opening ceremony of a 3-day retreat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Press Corps at the Eleventh House Hotel and Suites, Jericho, Ibadan.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor reminded the newsmen that they are the watchdog’s of the society.
The retreat with the theme: ‘Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy,’ was sponsored by the state government.
He said: “The media plays a critical role in development by holding those occupying public offices accountable, serving as the watchdog for the society.
“If you don’t hold people accountable, they may do whatever they like and may not pursue public interest. And public office holders, appointed or elected, are meant to work in the interest of the public.
“So, when the media does its job and holds those in political offices accountable, the likelihood of them working in the interest of the public is high.
“On the other hand, the media too must hold its members accountable, because the space the media is holding is the public space and the media is holding it in trust for the people. So, there won’t be development if the media fails to work in the interest of the public.”