|
What does it entail being the Special Adviser to Kogi State governor
on Media and Public Affairs?
Thank you. I am coming into the job purely from a professional
background. And I believe that it is a plus for me. You see, I
believe that my professional background is going to help me
tremendously in discharging my responsibilities as the Special
Adviser to His Excellency, the executive governor of Kogi State on
media and public affairs. My job is to galvanize the information
machinery of the government, particularly the governor and his
activities and his laudable programmes for the state. It is not
going to be really easy but we will try our best to inform the
people of the state about all the dividends of democracy so that the
electorate will be aware of the laudable programmes of this
administration. I sincerely believe that information management is
not synonymous with propaganda. I am not going to be a propagandist
but I will strive to put together the activities of government and
adequately inform the people about these activities. Fortunately,
the governor is a very good performer who has a clean record. And
that will make my job easier.
Have you had any orientation in politics before moving from
Journalism practice to your present job?
I am from a professional background where we criticize for the good
governance of this country. I will be very objective in talking
about government activities. What that means is that I am not going
to tell any lies. The thing is that we’re going to put in
perspective the activities of government. We have to explain why
certain decisions are taken, why certain projects are embarked upon.
People believe that in politics you have to tell lies. But what
we’re going to do is to tell the people the true position of things.
When policies are formulated we tell them the objectives of those
policies. I have a governor who is so humane and understanding. He
is an urbane man. He never puts pressure on us like typical
politicians tend to do. Since I assumed office I have enjoyed
working with Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Indeed, he is a wonderful person.
In the opinion of some people, your post offers the opportunity to
be like a shield to the person of the governor when over-zealous
opponents are attacking him ceaselessly. How successful have you
been in this direction?
Our responsibility is to build a bridge between the government and
the people through the mass media. When things are done by the
government we do our best to let the people know and appreciate
those things that are being done. And, if there is anything that
members of the public want to know about government we provide the
necessary information on daily basis, we link government with the
people through the mass media, namely, the radio. And we report to
government some of the information we gather from the members of the
public, especially the questions being asked by them. We brief the
governor about the feelings and views of the electorate. We simply
link him with the public.
The rumour, mill in Kogi State is being oiled by the opposition. How
are you ensuring that the active rumour mill is kept at bay so that
the people will understand the workings of government in the overall
interest of the people themselves?
Rumour mongering is not limited to Kogi State. It is in every
polity. Remember the rumour about the President’ trip to Saudi
Arabia. It is unfortunate when it becomes a sort of trade. In Kogi
State, for example, we’re bothered about the nature of rumour that
is in circulation. And those who are gullible accept this rumour
hook line and sinker. And these rumours emanate from the opposition
and it is linked to one of particular group led by a gubernatorial
aspirant defeeted by Governor Ibrahim Idris. They keep creating
disaffection among the people, using some journalists to plant
stories in the mass media that are figments of their fertile
imagination. They really intend to distract the governor from his
set goals. When we get to know about such rumours being peddled we
quickly put up reactions to debunk them. These rumours are peddled
because some people are so desperate especially the former governor,
Abubakar Audu, who thinks he is the only person capable to govern
Kogi State. The electorate in 2003 overwhelmingly voted for Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris to unseat a sitting governor. It is a fact that has
never happened that somebody from the private sector will
overwhelmingly defeat an incumbent. Because they are so bitter about
the defeat they do every thing possible to make the governor lose
focus but he is never bothered. He knows that it is Allah who has
bestowed this power on him and he intends to use it for the benefit
of the people. If God does not give power, no matter how hard you
struggle you won’t get it. And it is gratifying to note that the
people themselves are aware that the disgruntled politicians are
behind the rumours. The governor is only bothered about fulfilling
all the campaign promises he has made during his electioneering
campaign for the re-run election. And, he has lined up laudable
programmes he intends to implement in order to improve the living
standard of the people. He has said that nobody will distract him
and he does not lose sleep over the activities of rumour peddlers in
Kogi State. He is focused and will continue to be focused to provide
dividends of democracy to the electorate.
How is the governor ensuring that the different ethnic groups with
divergent interests have their fair share of the distribution of
facilities and social amenities?
Right from the beginning he got the people’s mandate to govern the
state in 2003 and 2007. before the re-run election in 2008 his focus
is that as the governor of Kogi State is the father of all. No
matter your tribe, religion or political inclination he is
everybody’s father. There are three senatorial districts in the
state and there are many tribes located in these senatorial
districts. And all his projects are distributed equally among the
three districts. If, for example, he is building 200 kilometre road
in Kogi Central Senatorial district, he replicates same in Kogi West
and East. If there are boreholes to be drilled he makes sure that
the three districts have equal number of boreholes. The boreholes
are scattered in the 21 local government areas. The same goes for
electrification and housing. For example, he is building 50 housing
units in all the local government area. So, facilities that are
being provided are distributed on equal basis. The governor carries
every part of the state along. So, that is what he has been able to
do.
Does your governor have a specific agenda he has set for himself
like we have witnessed in some state and federal levels in recent
times?
His Excellency, the executive governor of Kogi State has come out in
the public to state his agenda. He is aware of the problems of the
state. There is no sector that is not important to his
administration. He is executing projects in all the sectors. He is
so passionate about education, agriculture, health and roads. He
makes sure that money is provide dfor each project being executed.
He does not believe in abandoning projects half-way. In fact, his
policy is that any project he initiates he does everything possible
to complete it. Like you are aware, he is coming from the private
sector and he has been a successful businessman. He is prudent in
managing resources. And, that is what is guiding him in piloting the
affairs of Kogi State. Whatever resources are available to the
people are judiciously managed by him.
Kindly let me know his achievements in specific areas such as
education, health, agriculture and infrastructure?
Specially, in the area of housing, Governor Ibrahim Idris has been
able to build 500 housing units for civil servants in the state on
owner-occupier basis; 50 mansions have been built for judges,
permanent secretaries and the legislators. He, like I said earlier
has built 50 housing units in all the 21 local government areas to
enhance the living standards of the people in the rural areas.
In terms of housing twenty units of such buildings are nearing
completion and the project is on going. In the health sectors, he
has built over 18 cottage hospitals scattered across the state. He
has built an ultra modern referral hospital in Lokoja, the state
capital. It has capacity for 250 beds. And, a professor of Medicine
has been appointed the Chief Medical Director for the hospital. In
the area of road, within one year he has built three major roads in
each of the three senatorial districts worth 3.5 billion Naira. He
has over 30 roads which are in various stages of completion. Many
have been constructed and commissioned. Many bridges have been
completed to open up the rural areas of the state especial
budon-eggon bridge. This particular community has been cut off from
the rest of the state for several years. No previous administration
has been able to build the bridge, but during his campaign tour he
went to the area and he was not able to cross to the other side to
talk to the people. But along the line he was able to communicate
with them. He then promise that he would build a bridge for them if
he was elected. He has fulfilled that electoral promised and the
bridge has been commissioned. Now, the people can take out their
farm produce to the market and sell. Before his assumption of
office, no road was dualized in the state capital. All the roads
were narrow. But, Governor Idris, with his magic ward, has been able
to dualize all the major roads in the state capital. And most of the
round abouts have been re-built. In all, over 20 billion Naira has
been expended on roads across the state. There is a road which links
Ajaokuta from Ganaja Junction. It is the only that links the North
to the South east and South-South. It is a federal road. But he has
decided to rebuild it. He has awarded the contract worth over 3
billion Naira. Work on the road will start immediately after this
current raining season. He is doing it in the hope that the Federal
Government will reimburse him. There are so many projects he has
actually executed that time may not permit me to enumerate in this
forum. In respect of water supply, the present government has
addressed it squarely. He has spent over 2 billion Naira on the
provision of good drinking water through out the state. Under this
scheme, communities with surface water, streams or rivers are
provided with rural water works, using innovative packaging system.
Motorized boreholes have also been sunk in other communities where
there is no surface water. Today, the Lokoja-Ayangeitu-Okene-Idah
water works which have been moribund since the creation of the state
are functional. Also, an international market has been built at the
cost of 3.4 billion Naira. The importance of the market cannot be
overemphasized because Lokoja is like a mini capital of Nigeria.
From the South and the East Lokoja is like a transit town to the
north.
The idea of the ultra modern is that people from various parts of
the country will be able to transact their businesses without tears.
With regards to the industrialization of the state, work will soon
commence on the 56 million US dollars Ibaji sugar factory. This
administration sees industrialization as a tool for the empowerment
of youth and women. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has deliberately spread the
cottage industries for even development. As you know, agriculture is
the major occupation of the people of Kogi State. So far, the
governor has been able to provide over 227 tricycles to them for
easy evacuation of their farm produce from site. In the education
sector, he has ensured that the 29 courses offered at Kogi State
University have now been accredited and the university at Ayangba
has been ranked as one of the best state/private universities in the
country today. At the time of his assumption of office, the National
Universities Commission (NUC) discredited all the courses being
studied. This is because the institution was like a glorified
secondary school. But this administration has pumped in to the
university over 3 billion Naira to uplift the quality of education
offered there. He ensured NUC’s accreditation under six months.
Modern libraries and lecture halls have been built just like state
of the art facilities have been provided.
How is your governor ensuring that the opposition is carried along
in the business of governance and to let them know his sincerity of
purpose as much as, possible?
Shortly after his third election he told the people of the state
that he is now the father of all and he intended to carry everybody
on the ship of state, irrespective of party affiliation. He equally
stretched his hand of fellowship to the losers at the polls. Some of
them have accepted the governor’s magnanimity except the major
challenger, Abubakar Audu, owing to his desperation for power.
Today, he has been able to appointe five special advisers from the
state chapter of conference of Nigerian political parties (CNPP).
Some members the opposition have been appointed to head state
parastatals. So, the opposition has been brought on board to provide
dividends of democracy to the people of Kogi State. My governor is a
very humane and accommodating person.
How is the governor curtailing youth restiveness in the central
senatorial district which he referred to in an interview, recently?
The recurrence of violence in Kogi Central Senatorial district is a
worrisome matter to the governor like every other stakeholder.
Measures are being taken to put a stop to the violence in that area,
particularly Okene. He has summoned all the traditional rulers there
to read a riot act to them.
As custodians of the culture of the people, the leaders should be
able to prevail on their subjects to eschew violence and lay their
arms down. Some desperate politicians armed the youth during
electioneering campaign. Because of the failure of those who armed
them to fulfill their earlier promises, these arms cannot be
retrieved from them. The angry youth have now turned against those
who armed them, in the first place. Some of those fingered to have
done that can no longer return home. They are now seeking refuge in
other parts of the state like Lokoja to foment trouble. He is now
thinking of constituting a joint taskforce to mop up the violent
area of arms. When the police and the military come to operate in
the area we are sure that youth restiveness will be kept at bay and
permanent peace will be restored.
Can you explain the rationale behind the governor’s dissolution of
the executive council he first constituted before the court ordered
a re-run election in the state?
Although the exercise you’re referring to took place before I
assumed office, the governor explained to the people that he did it
in good faith and to enable him refocus his administration by
bringing on board fresh hands and injecting fresh blood into the
machinery of government. He simply rejigged the cabinet and juggled
some of the commissioners he retained. some were moved from their
previous ministries to others where they could do better and new
ones were appointed. It is essentially meant to tie loose ends.
With the re-run election held in Kogi State the state may no longer
hold gubernatorial election on the same date as other states in the
federation. What does that mean to the development of the state?
The development is a blessing in disguise. This is because, it has
extended the period for the people to enjoy more dividends of
democracy, even though, I don’t know the implications
constitutionally. The re-run election has extended his tenure and
the people should be happier for it as the governor will have
additional time to do a good job and provide more services to the
people.
As professional information manager, what should the people of Kogi
State expect from you as the Special Adviser to the governor on
Media and Public affairs?
I am coming from a purely professional background and I have been in
Journalism for the past 20 years. I therefore have enough knowledge
about information management. Don’t forget that I am a graduate of
Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. I, therefore, have
a good background to manage information machinery of the governor.
What that means is that I have a lot of contacts in the media being
a member of Guild of Editors. I will always reach out to my
colleagues who will help us publicize the governor’s programmes and
policies. Our people should be properly informed about activities of
this government and the reasons for certain decisions taken by the
administration. It is only an administration which has skeleton in
its cupboard that engages in propaganda.
In my opinion, propaganda and information management are not the
same. It is when you have something to hide that you go into
propaganda. We’re not going to tell anybody lies because my boss is
very straightforward person. He is a very disciplined person, coming
from the private sector. It is the same attitude he has brought to
bear on government business. We, therefore, don’t have any thing to
hide.
Some people are of the opinion that for your government to get the
maximum support it deserves, the information machinery must be
strengthened. for instance, the radio station should be boosted and
the newspaper of the state government should circulate very well and
the information ministry should complement the efforts of the other
organs of the mass media. How have you been able to do that?
Recently, the state executive council approved some money for the
strengthening of the Confluence Radio station owned by the
government. Already, the programme is on to make sure that the
people across the state listen to it. The Graphics which is the
state owned newspaper is also being strengthened and money has been
released for that purpose.
The commissioner in charge of the ministry of Information is doing
his very best to strengthen the state information machinery. We hope
that more will be done in addition to what is currently on the
ground. My office complements what the ministry of information is
doing.
The purported resignation of Mr. President was a news item carried
by a section of the mass media which heated up the polity. Will you
say that the media handled the matter with all sense of
responsibility it deserved?
It is unfortunate that that episode occurred. I think, it is a
lesson to all the professionals in the mass media. This is because
in a democracy a lot of mischiefs are being planted in the media by
those who feel there should not be stability in the polity. That is
why information managers in the mass media should not be gullible.
As an editor I have come across such stories and I looked at them
critically and analysed them before doing anything at all. It is
unfortunate Chanels Television didn’t a good job. That story, from
my own analysis emanated from some hackers who were able to break
into the News Agency of Nigeria system and posted one mischievous
story about the president’s resignation. When you see that bulleting
purportedly from NAN it is not typical of NAN. It was full of errors
grammatically and otherwise. NAN has a chain of editors who handle
its news items before they are posted on their cast. I don’t think
the story was actually from NAN. I expected channels Television to
cross check its facts about a breaking news item that is very
sensitive. What they needed to do was to call the Presidency’s
information managers to verify. I am sure many newspaper editors saw
that news item, critically examined it and put it aside. Even in
Kogi State, that kind of thing is happening. The opposition has
hired some media men to cook up stories about EFCC and ICPC and
unimaginable crises in the state and visit media organizations to
plant them. I give an example. Recently, they took a new item to a
newspaper company about the crisis between the state House of
Assembly and the governor. They also promised to give the editor a
lot of money. This story is not true. They wanted to cause
disaffection between the state House of Assembly and the governor.
But, the editor of the newspaper called and found out from me that
the story was looked up. There and then, he dismissed them from his
office. The House of assembly members who are from the governor’s
political party are in the majority. And government is not made up
of the executive arm alone. Both the assembly and judiciary are part
and parcel of governance. Editors of newspapers, television and
radio station’s should be very vigilant so that such an incident
will not occur again.
What is your message to the people of Kogi state, now?
Our message is that the election has come and gone. Winner and
losers have emerged. We are all stakeholders in the affairs of Kogi
State, no matter what political parties you belong to. We need to
support the policies and programmes of the present administration in
the state so that together we can move forward. We are all brothers
and sisters and we should strive to move the state forward so that
the governor can provide more dividends of democracy in the
atmosphere of peace and stability. That is my message. Thank you
.
|
