Aniagwu calls for developmental journalism

THE Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu has described developmental journalism as progressive and urged Journalists to indulge in it to fast-track development of the country.

Mr Aniagwu made the call on Tuesday (25/10/2016) while addressing members of the Indigenous Newspapers/Magazine Chapel (INMC) of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Delta State Council at their Secretariat in Asaba.

He said "It is imperative for journalists to be conscious of the environment they live in and find ways of developing those areas as they carry out their tasks, by putting government and other development agencies on their toes to ensure that the best is achieved for the masses."

The CPS commended journalists in Delta State for balancing their reports observing that "in spite of the very harsh economic situation on our individual economies, you have not decided to go into the jungle approach for survival."

The governor's mouthpiece used the occasion to throw lights on why Governor Okowa's administration has not embarked on the reconstruction of the DLA Road in Asaba disclosing that, "a number of people have reminded us about the state of Okpanam and DLA roads and asking why it is taking so long to complete the roads. But we have taken our time to explain that the kind of job we want to do on DLA and Okpanam roads which have different peculiarities and challenges when compared to a streets like Usonia is not something that you can fix in one day because DLA road is more or less in a low terrain."

"If you just go ahead and construct the road without taking care of the drainage that will have the capacity to empty water into major roads like Nnebisi road or Summit road; it will end up emptying those water to the houses of those who have lived in those areas over the years," he said, pointing out that, “As a government we have the capacity to raise the road above the flood level but the implication is that there would be no commensurate drainage to take care of the flooding that will ravage the houses along the road.
"Governor Okowa is too sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people that he is governing and will not take any action that will be detrimental to the people's welfare. He (Governor Okowa) can't say because people are crying, let us go and do DLA road, after all the road is a very strategic road but when it rains people who owns houses cannot enter their compounds. Our plan is to construct and appreciate drainage that can handle the volume of flood on both DLA and Okpanam road''

He used the occasion to commend the Indigenous ChapeI for showing a very good example in the management of their resources which has made it possible for the union to have a Secretariat for the first time.

"I thank the leaders of the union for their support and understanding and for thinking in the same line with us otherwise we wouldn't have been able to achieve what we have here today, because we came in with something that looks very harsh and there were some resistance but with the support of the leaders we have been able to forge ahead and what we are seeing here today is a product of that sacrifice."

Earlier, the Chairman of the Indigenous Newspapers/Magazine Chapel (INMC) of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Delta State Council, Comrade Spence Friday Idighri, thanked the CPS for his contributions in ensuring the realization of the Chapel's Secretariat project.

He said, "You helped to make possible a 5-year dream and when the history of this chapel is written you will surely be accorded a pride of place in the union.''

The Vice President, Zone F, NUJ, Comrade Edward Akpati Ogude and the Chairman of the Delta State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Norbert Chiazor commended the Chief Press Secretary for his concern for journalists in the state assuring that members of the Union will continue to be guided by the ethics of the profession when carrying out their assignments.