Osun at 25: Kwara Speaker Advocates Legislature, Media Relationship to Promote Good Governance

By Abdulrofiu Agboola, Osogbo

The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Honourable Dr Ali Babatunde Ahmad has advocated a strong relationship between the legislature and the media in order to enjoy good governance.

Ahmed made the call while delivering a lecture titled “The role of the legislature and media in democratic governance” at the celebration event of ‘Osun at 25′, organized by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Osun Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo.

A Cross Section of Participants with Members of Correspondents Chapel in uniform Dress

According to him, the parliament and the media have critical role to play in ensuring good governance, saying the institution must be strong enough to ensure legislative processing and made accessible to enhance reportage.

He also advised that the media should develop prerequisite skills needed for in-depth reporting so as to ensure consolidation of democracy.

The speaker who was represented by the leader, Kwara House of Assembly, Mr Hassan Oyeleke said the media through its investigative role has the power to ouster Presidents and Prime Ministers as it is in so many cases across the globe.

He said the fall of Fernando Collect de Mello of Brazil in 1992, Albert Fijimor in 2000, Atdala Bucarain of Ecuador in 1997 and others were caused by investigative reporting on their complicity in corrupt deals.

Dr Ahmad explained that Journalists in the past have succeeded in exposing abuse of power, corruption, human rights violations, and assorted malfeasance while policies had been changed and reforms initiated said there is need for journalists and legislators to come together to perform their respective duties towards strengthening our democracy and good governance

He said the roles the media and legislature play in democratic governance is vital as they help in political emancipation and social-economic transformation.

According to Dr Ahmad, “while the Legislature at the national and state level have the power to make laws for peace, order and good governance, the media through investigate reporting help to build the culture of openness, transparency through keeping the legislators accountable for their actions.

Dr Ahmad said by the media playing it’s investigative role and providing the public with information about the actions and opinions of the legislators, tyranny and excesses of arbitrary rule would be prevented.

He however said while the media most important role is helping the public to enjoy it’s ‘right to know’, it should work with a share responsibility of the legislature to contribute to political emancipation and transformation in ways consistent with economic principals by pursuing fact based, fully substantiated reporting.

In his goodwill messages, the governor of Osun, Ogbeni  Rauf Aregbesola who was represented by the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere, felicitated with NUJ for successfully organizing a programme to mark the 25th anniversary of the state.

He said the state government would organize the official anniversary of the state creation on Saturday, as he equally urged members of NUJ in the state to put their house in order and resolve the internal crisis bedeviling the union.

The Oluwo of Iw, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi called on the media to be more active in reporting tourism and cultural development in order to foster our past and encourage good governance.

Oba Akanbi who charged the media representatives on the need for them to uphold principle of objectivity and fairness in their reportage also implored them to embrace patriotic journalism.

He said it was incumbent upon the journalists to always be patriotic and objective in their reportage, saying they should base their report on what would have positive impact on the masses.

Earlier, the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Hameed Oyegbade said the anniversary events organised by the NUJ chapel was because journalists are stakeholders in the political affairs and development of the state.

He said coincidentally, the Osun correspondents’ chapel came into existence due to the creation of Osun out of old Oyo state, stressing that celebrating Osun at 25 is like celebrating the NUJ chapel’s 25 years of existence.

Highlight of the programme was the conferment of the award on the three distinguish personalities. They are Chief Dr Rahaman Adedoyin(Propritor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu Ile-Ife), Mr Babajide Bewaji(UBA Regional Director) and Hon Dr Kayode Oduoye(Super K).