Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has emphasized the critical role of media practitioners as the watchdogs of society, urging them to be transparent and accountable in their reporting. His remarks came during the opening ceremony of a three-day retreat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Press Corps, themed “Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy,” held at the Eleventh House Hotel and Suites, Jericho, Ibadan.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde asserted that the media is essential for ensuring political office holders are held accountable in the public interest. He stated, “The media plays a critical role in development by holding those occupying public offices accountable, serving as the watchdog for the society.”
He further explained that transparency and accountability from public officials lead to societal development, which aligns with the media’s ultimate goal. “If you don’t hold people accountable, they may do whatever they like and may not pursue public interest. And public office holders, appointed or elected, are meant to work in the interest of the public,” he said.
Makinde underscored the need for media professionals to ensure their roles and platforms are not controlled by those in power nor misused by the practitioners themselves. He remarked, “So, when the media does its job and holds those in political offices accountable, the likelihood of them working in the interest of the public is high.”
He also highlighted the importance of media accountability, stating, “The media too must hold its members accountable, because the space the media is holding is the public space and the media is holding it in trust for the people. So, there won’t be development if the media fails to work in the interest of the public.”
Earlier, Mr. Samuel Ogidan, the chairman of the PDP Press Corps, welcomed participants and noted that the retreat aimed to foster deep discussions and training to equip them for the evolving demands of political reporting, especially amidst the challenges of digital disruption.