I’ll Never Gag the Press, says Akeredolu

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Tuesday said he would never at any point in time gag the members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from performing their civic responsibilities.

Governor Akeredolu stated this in Akure during the opening ceremony and investiture of grand patron and royal patron of the 2019 Ondo press week celebration.

Akeredolu, who was awarded as the grand patron of NUJ, said, ” Once you are in government,you should expect it, there will be attacks,my objective is to provide on good work am providing.”

He said he had at no time looked into the activities of the state media-owned organisations.

Akeredolu said the opposition parties had also been allowed to ventilate their views on different programmes on the state owned media organisations.

“Am delighted to be here. It is your day, I think you should be happy. NUJ in Ondo State has endeared itself to the people of the state,” he said.

Akeredolu also said that journalists were important to the progress of any democratic settings, an had been engendering unity in the country.

The Royal Patron of the union, Oba Adefarakanmi Agbede, the Olowa of Igbara-,Oke Kingdom urged the members of the union to continue to fight for the freedom of speech in the country.

The Chairman of NUJ, Ondo State Council, Mr Adetona Aderoboye said the awards were devoid of any political colouration.

Aderoboye said, “I want to use this opportunity to reiterate our irrevocable commitment to do more for the overall benefits of our members and the growth of the union”.

Ends.