L-R: Elder Omene Sobotie (6th) flanked by Delta Guild of Indigenous Newspapers Publishers members on Tuesday
By Samuel Ogude
The Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) Delta State, Elder Omene Sobotie said news media whether electronics (radio television), print (newspaper, magazine: hard copy or online-internet) would not stand the test of time if they are used to propagate falsehoods. Elder Sobotie stated this when members of Delta Guild of Indigenous Newspapers Publishers paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba, the state capital on Tuesday.
According to him, any news medium which publishes falsehood only endangers its medium as the truth which is being painted as falsehood would always surface. His words: “I don’t believe that newspaper at any level should propagate falsehood because truth is not something you can hide”. According to him, newspaper(s) publishers should shun sensational stories as though, the news medium could be promoted at the beginning but with time, the medium would fade out.
He said, many people shun a news medium which propagates falsehood as they don’t want to be misrepresented in whatever they have said, adding, neither the Journalist, the writer of such a story nor the organization which publishes such a story does help itself. According to him, any person who pulls his neighbours down, goes down likewise. He said, the reason, many a time, Journalists misrepresent authority in their stories, they never attended such a ceremony which they have written its story.
His words: “Why a lot of people avoid newspapers is when you put yourself in a place to propagate falsehood. When you don’t attend a function and you write story about it. When you misrepresent those in authority, you don’t help yourself”. He therefore charged the members of the group to be truthful and factual at all times in their reportage. While Elder Sobotie expressed gratitude for the group’s visit, he promised to always support the group whenever the needs arise. He thanked specially the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Oborevwori on Community Newspapers, Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye for being alive to his responsibility in his assigned office.
Earlier in his address, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oborevwori on Community Newspapers Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye who spoke on behalf of the group said, the group deemed it necessary to pay the visit to congratulate him on his recent birthday, his appointment as the Chairman of APC, Delta State by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and to intimate him on the importance of community newspapers in information dissemination to the grassroots. According to Prince Orhomonokpaye, the group is ready to propagate and work in line with More Agenda of Governor Oborevwori and that of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda mantras.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oborevwori on Community Newspapers said, the community newspapers are veritable tools in information dissemination to the elites and the grass root people and appealed to Elder Sobotie to incorporate community newspapers during government’ programmes news coverage just as he called on other corporate organizations and individuals to always use community newspapers in their programmes’ coverage. The SSA to Governor Oborevwori on Community Newspapers said, the group needs financial assistance in order for them to regularly come out with their publications as sourcing for funds for publication especially now that the cost of materials has hit the roof, is not easy.
While expressing gratitude to Elder Sobotie for his fatherly advice to him and other Journalists in media practice in the state over the years, he said, his words of advice have shaped many lives especially he himself positively, the dividends of such (pieces of advice) are what he still enjoys till date. Prince Orhomonokpaye therefore promised the group’s readiness to work with the State and Federal Government move the state in particular and the country to the next level.