Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday congratulated the state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on its successful and peaceful election/transition, describing the outcome “as a victory for every member of the pen profession”.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor urged journalists in the state, to join the government in setting agenda for improved socioeconomic development of the state.
“The government congratulates the new chairman, Mr. Ahmed Abdullateef of the Herald newspapers on his victory. We also congratulate other members of the newly elected council” the statement said.
The Governor thanked the outgone council and reassured the new council of its full support.
It added that the new council has a mandate, as always, to strengthen media professionalism, discourage sensationalism and war journalism, and embrace development or solution-driven journalism.
It also commended the NUJ in the state for its principled association with the government in its developmental drive.
The governor called for joint efforts with relevant state agencies to fight fake news, ethnic profiling, misinformation, and a growing culture of alternative facts which now threatens the world.
“The administration wishes the newly elected leadership of the Kwara State NUJ Council a successful tenure, and once again congratulates the entire council for what was clearly a peaceful and orderly election and transition which affirm Kwara as the state of harmony”
In a similar message, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engineer Yakubu Danaladi-Salihu congratulated the newly elected Council Chairman other elected executives of the Union.
“On behalf of the Ninth Assembly, I wish to assure the new leadership of the NUJ of the support of the legislature and urge them to purge the union of purveyors of fake news who are hiding under the pen profession”.
The new leadership of the NUJ will serve for a period of three years.
Bilkisu Pai
