PRESS STATEMENT
IDLE STATEMENTS IN A MOMENT OF ANOMIE: RESPONSE TO A MEDIA REPORT ON saharareporters.com
Our attention has been drawn to a press report in saharareporters.com in which the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was accused of instigating arson in the ongoing protests in Ondo State.
In the same report, Dr Mimiko was also accused of trying to influence the ongoing appeal at the Court of Appeal. Reference was also made to Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) whom the author of the write-up described as Mimiko’s stooge.
Much as this report would not have been dignified with a response in view of a plethora of such misleading stories that the readers are now choosing to discountenance, we feel that issues should be cleared for the sensitivity of the moment and the fact that both Mimiko and Jegede referred to in the report are arch-believers in the rule of law.
It has been widely acknowledged in the print, electronic and social media, that the riots that took place in Ondo State following the substitution of Jegede’s name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP governorship candidate were instantaneous. It was in fact, the prompt intervention of Governor Mimiko who rallied all security agents that helped quell the protests.
Again, it was the immediate press release issued by Jegede, that all his supporters should be calm and wait on the Appeal Court for justice, that smoothed frayed nerves.
It is, therefore, mischievous of any one to assume that the governor or Jegede would stoke the fire of the crisis.
As a matter of fact, the instantaneous protests erupted all over the state and cut across major towns and villages.
It is shocking, to say the least, that saharareporters now sees legitimate protests by market women, youths, artisans and other residents of Ondo State to express their displeasure, as illegitimate in a democratic setting.
Besides, describing Jegede as Mimiko’s stooge is no more than an idle statement in the class of intellectuals. For a senior advocate of Nigeria who has drawn up his economic blueprint for the development of Ondo State to be reduced to a stooge in a politically motivated and vicious fashion is a disservice to decency.
If it is the fact that Jegede intends to continue the lofty programmes of the present administration, build on them and also initiate fresh programmes, that will now make him a stooge in the warped views of detractors, so be it.
Detractors can go to the market with tar brushes, telling market women that their preferred next governor of Ondo State will cancel the free bus shuttle for their children in schools. Let them tell the residents that modern mega schools should no longer be built, or that loans should no longer be given to farmers to boost their occupation.
The media, much as it stands to inform and educate, should also stand to set good agenda and not destructive gossips that will set back the wheel of progress in any given society.
We, as a result, urge saharareporters not to any longer allow its platform to be used for regaling in damaging reports on innocent people, simply because they are public figures and may not want to join issues with the media.
Journalism is a noble profession which takes objectivity and fairness as creed. And it should be practised as such.
Thank you.
(Signed)
Mr. Kayode Fasua,
Head, Media and Publicity,
Eyitayo Jegede Campaign Organisation.
