As parts of efforts in electing credible candidates in Oyo state in 2023 elections, the Aare-Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke (FCA), has tasked the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo state Council in ensuring that right candidates are elected into various political positions.
The Ibadan Chief, who is the Chairman, Campaign Council, Accord, Oyo state stated this on Thursday on a WhatsApp platform created by Chairman of Oyo NUJ, Ademola Babalola tagged “Oyo Media Stakeholders”.
Adegoke, a business turn around expert, and a philanthropist per excellence, who is an alumni member of both Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ife and University of Cambridge Judge Business School Advance Leadership Program maintained that Journalists in the state have enormous responsibility in ensuring that right quality of leadership, emotional intelligence and appropriate vision candidate leads Oyo state as the Governor.
According to him, “I want to crave the indulgence of the Oyo NUJ to play a more formidable role in ensuring the right candidates are elected into the various political positions in 2023 in Oyo State.
“The current situation where we have London bus drivers, Underground Rail Workers, Cab drivers and Inexperienced people as our representatives at the State and National Assemblies is not good for the development of Oyo State.
“We need someone with the right quality of leadership, emotional intelligence and appropriate vision to lead Oyo State as the Governor. In addition, we don’t need a rubber stamp State House of Assembly.
“What’s NUJ Oyo going to do or is doing in making sure we have a round peg in a round hole across board?
Speaking on the platform, Babalola said, “the platform, Oyo State Media Stakeholders was created to avail all political parties’ Media professionals/PR agents the opportunity of airing their views and sending their stories on daily basis to the platform for the practicing journalists to work on, especially if they deem it appropriate to use in their respective media houses.
“We must however understand that there is no compulsion that your stories would be used at all cost. Let’s understand this sacred FACT, please.
“Seasoned Journalists and Veterans alike are members of the group and their inclusion is for them to get daily news updates from all political parties as news are breaking wherever they are and whenever they go on campaigns.
“I understand we cannot rule out occasional altercations and brickbats but let’s do so with all civility, please. Remember that these political actors are the same and are merely bonded by their interests which on most occasions are anchored on ‘end justifies the means’.
“As journalists whether you are in government today or opposition, remember that we will always meet on some other occasions and we must therefore not see ourselves as enemies while carrying out the functions assigned to us by our principals.
“Let’s be guided and we should not make unnecessary enemies as we strive to outdo one another”.
