GOVERNOR’S AIDE PARLEYS PARLIAMENTARIANS

…calls for diplomacy, balance reportage

Anietie Essia

The Special Assistant to Governor on Electronic Media, Ambassador Sampson Akpan has called on all parliamentarians, the good people of Akwa Ibom State and the general public to ensure civility, diplomacy and objective news reportage in the media space.

Amb. Sampson Akpan made the call on Saturday at his Etinan country home while playing a Christmas host to a cross section of parliamentarians of ‘People’s Parliament’ a daily three hours radio programme on Planet FM centered on giving the microphone to the people to air out their views, opinions and ideas towards reviewing and constructively criticizing the day to day activities cum leadership strength in Akwa Ibom State and the country at large.

The governor’s aide noted that the media be it electronic, print and social media plays a significant role in information dissemination, circulation and management which the general public should be cautious of the type of information sent out to the public space for consumption most especially by the gullible public can either destroy, mar, build or project the programmes, activities and policies of the Akwa Ibom State Government in bad cum good light.

He stated that His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel is the most media friendly governor the state has ever produced which the regular briefing of the people of his administration’s strides towards delivering on his completion agenda mantra through the media has formed part of the government’s routine measures to keep her people abreast with the programmes, activities and policies of the state government.

He however urged the parliamentarians not to be overwhelmed and blinded by political, social, religious and tribal sentiment but duly uphold to the tenets and ethics of the noble profession as prescribed by the principles of effective, balance, factual and objective communication to avoid misinformation.

On their part, Mr. Idorenyin Umana, the leader of the parliament extolled the unprecedented and gigantic leadership prowess of His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel most especially from changing the political narrative of the state from a civil service state to an industrial hub with the provisions of the 18 functional industries in the state which has created job opportunities for the teeming youths of Akwa Ibom State.

He also pointed out that the government has done it best to maintain, sustain and retain peace in the state which Akwa Ibom was recently rated by the national as the most peaceful state in the country while also urging the government to make good policies that will enhance the people’s growth, welfare, well-being and development in all facets of life most especially to the downtrodden.

Mr. Umana reaffirmed the parliamentarians position to continually speak in the best interests of the people of Akwa Ibom State by drawing government’s attention to the plights and yearnings of the people and heed accordingly to the principles of communication to portray government in a good light.