The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal, has charged online news publishers to keenly verify and balance stories before publishing them.
Barrister Lawal made this statement during his speech on Thursday, when the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
SWEGOP is comprised of online publishers from Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, and Ekiti states. Members of the group came together to promote professionalism through self-regulation and expand their reach through multiple professionally managed online media outlets.
“I appreciate your coming together as a group of online publishers, which gives room for regulations of media practices and contents,” he said.
He assured that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration would engage in mutual dialogue with members of SWEGOP and urged them to consistently advise and bring to the government’s attention issues that pertain to the well-being of the people and the state’s development.
“Our doors are open. We will always welcome your ideas and constructive criticism. We expect a symbiotic relationship that will serve the interests of the state and its people,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the SWEGOP Chairman, Olayinka Agboola saluted Governor Seyi Makinde for shopping for the right peg to fit into the appropriate executive hole as represented by Barrister Bayo Lawal.
While saluting the administration of Governor Makinde for the successes achieved so far in terms of infrastructure provision, especially the remodelled Lekan Salami Stadium, Motor Parks, and road construction, the group drew the government’s attention to the issues of refuse disposal and insecurity in the state.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that the Federal Government has its giant share of the blame; Engineer Makinde’s government still needs to be more pragmatic in this respect,” Agboola noted.
The SWEGOP Chairman then assured the Acting Governor of the further partnership with the Governor Makinde-led government “as you work hard to take the state to the greatest heights.”
However, Agboola disclosed that the major challenge in Nigeria is a lack of fear of God and general lawlessness.
“If we can all check out ourselves, individually and collectively, we will realise that disregard for decency as depicted by the principle of Omoluabism (as propagated by our forefathers) is a major factor destabilising and impeding our progress as a nation. Not religion. Not even political affiliations,” he clarified.
