The Secretary to Ondo State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu has charged professional journalists and bloggers to engage more in investigative reports that will discourage spread of fake news in the interest of the society.
She gave the charge in Akure while receiving the new Executives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, led by the chairman, Comrade Leke Adegbite who paid her a courtesy visit in her office on Thursday, 21st April, 2022.
According to Princess Odu, media professionals as the conscience of the society, must not allow quacks or unprofessional bloggers to destroy the noble profession of journalism.
The first Ondo Female SSG, who was speaking against the backdrop of a fake online reports of death rumour of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, urged NUJ and other media professional bodies to sanction unethical practices for a virile society.
Princess Odu said it was unethical for some bloggers based outside the country to fabricate fake news of death rumour on the governor, noting that it was wicked to wish human being like them dead.
The SSG who expressed joy that Arakunrin Akeredolu who went for a vacation abroad, said he would be back in the state soon after his official leave.
Princess Odu said, “When your report is genuine, it gives a lot of honour”, she added just as she reeled out some of the achievements of the present administration saying the Governor is particularly interested in the welfare of the citizenry and workers.
While also using the opportunity to congratulate the new state executives, Princess Odu said as a friend of NUJ and the media, her doors are always open to the members of the union.
The SSG commended journalists in Ondo State and NUJ for imbibe professionalism over the years, urging them to sustain same.
Earlier, the New Ondo State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Leke Adegbite, who had commended core professionalism among journalists in the state, promised that the Union would continue to fight quackery in the profession.
The NUJ Chairman also condemned the fake news on the Governor, expressed joy that such wicked rumour did not emanate from professional journalists and bloggers in the state.
Comrade Adegbite encouraged the state government to continue to give top priority to welfare of workers.
