EDITORIALS! Reappraising NUJ WEEK: A Call For Action Cum A Glimpse Of Hope

EDITORIALS!

The 2024 Ekiti State NUJ Press Week in Ado-Ekiti was a mixed bag. While it offered a platform for introspection and professional development, it also highlighted the stark realities facing Ekiti State Journalists and the state’s media landscape.

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A ray of hope emerged with the generous donation from the immediate past Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi now retired, an indigene of llawe -Ekiti.

This act of support is the highest donation recorded in the history of the union, it is commendable and should serve as a beacon for other individuals and organizations to emulate.

In a bid to propel the state forward, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji had done assiduously on the development of Ekiti State roads and the construction of the ongoing bridge.

However, a thriving government need a strong media to serve as intermediary between the government and the people. 

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To effectively achieve this objective, there is need to provide a befitting environment for journalist in the state. This can be done by constructing a suitable Press Center for Journalist just as seen in other states of the Federation as Ekiti is the only state without accommodating Press Centre. 

It would be recalled that the previous administration of Kayode Fayemi granted the approval for the usage of the current NUJ Press Center at Oke Bareke, while Governor Oyebanji gave out the Certificate of Occupancy.

However, the current NUJ office is not befitting the Fourth Estate of the Realm  and Ekiti State in relation to the role it plays in governance. We in the Treasures Newspapers hereby oblige the Governor to consider this request of constructing a befitting and well equiped Pen/ TV House for the journalists in the State. 

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While we also implore Governor Biodun Oyebanji to provide the Press men with a well befitting Press Centre, we equally wish our Governor to construct a road linking Ikare through the Ado Local Government area to the new immigration office. 

This will totally and actually eliminate the crisis of busy road through Ijigbo-Ado Grammar School-Oke Ureje linking Ikare- Ikole-Kwara State and Abuja, the FCT.

In addition, we also wish Mr Governor to construct three roads from Emirin road junction to Oshodi via Afao road and South Western Hotel road to link the Housing Corporation. 

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The road is better described as a death trap to the thousands of people living there as well as the road beside the Gulf Club to link Oke-Ila area.

It is our hope that the Executive Governor of Ekiti will urgently consider provision of at least three new Transformers for Oke-Ureje, NNPC/Aba-Oyinbo/lyana Emirin/ newly completed multi-million naira shopping complex started by the government of Segun Oni ready for commissioning now. 

Mr Governor Sir, it has come to our notice as Watch-dog of the public, how these communities had been in darkness since October 2023 till date. Also, how both the landlords and the tenants contributed a huge sum to prevail on the so called BEDC to restore their electricity which had yielded nothing.

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The most painful thing is that people living around the bridge are enjoying uninterrupted light. Our investigation also revealed that people living in these areas are in total darkness, resulting in them using torchlight of their phones while criminals are taking advantage of the blackout since over a year now.

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