GOVERNOR ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, yesterday, charged media practitioners to be transparent in discharging their duties as the watchdog of the society, noting that journalists must hold political office holders accountable in the public’s interest.

The governor stated this at the opening ceremony of a 3-day retreat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Press Corps, with the theme: ‘Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy,’ held at the Eleventh House Hotel and Suites, Jericho, Ibadan.

Governor Makinde, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, maintained that the media is the fulcrum of the society and its watchdog, adding that “the media is supposed to hold those in government accountable.”

According to the governor, transparency and accountability from public officeholders will result in development, which is the ultimate goal of the media and the wish of the society.

He explained that pursuing public interest fosters development, emphasising that the media must ensure that its roles and platforms are neither controlled by those in power nor abused by media practitioners themselves.

Makinde said: “The media plays a critical role in development by holding those occupying public offices accountable, serving as the watchdog for the society.

“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.

“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.

“On the other hand, 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 in his welcome remarks, the chairman of the PDP Press Corps, Mr Samuel Ogidan, said the retreat aimed at engaging the participants deeply in conversations and training that would equip them to meet the rising demands and complexities of political reporting, especially in the age of digital disruption.

VANGUARD