Adegoke Urges NUJ To Ensure Emergence Of Credible Personality As Next Oyo Governor

As parts of efforts in electing credible candidates in Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, the Aare-Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke (FCA), has tasked the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council in ensuring that right candidates are elected into various political positions.

The Ibadan Chief, who is the Chairman, Campaign Council of Accord Party in Oyo State stated this on Thursday on a WhatsApp platform created by Chairman of Oyo NUJ, Ademola Babalola tagged “Oyo Media Stakeholders”.

Adegoke, a philanthropist per excellence, and an alumnus of both Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife and University of Cambridge Judge Business School Advance Leadership Program, maintained that journalists in the state have enormous responsibility in ensuring that right quality of leadership, emotional intelligence and a candidate with vision leads Oyo State as Governor.

According to him, “I want to crave the indulgence of Oyo NUJ to play more formidable roles in ensuring that the right candidates are elected into various political positions in 2023 in the state.

“The current situation, where we have London bus drivers, underground rail workers, cab drivers and inexperienced people as our representatives at the State and National Assemblies is not good for the development of Oyo State.

“We need someone with the right quality of leadership, emotional intelligence and appropriate vision to lead Oyo State as the Governor. In addition, we don’t need a rubber stamp State House of Assembly.

“What’s NUJ Oyo going to do or is doing to make sure we have a round peg in a round hole across board?

Speaking on the platform, Babalola said, “the platform, Oyo State Media Stakeholders was created to avail all political parties’ media professionals/PR agents the opportunity of airing their views and sending their stories on a daily basis to the platform for practising journalists to work on, especially if they deem it appropriate to use in their respective media houses.

“We must however, understand that there is no compulsion that your stories would be used at all cost. Let’s understand this sacred fact, please.

“Seasoned journalists and veterans alike are members of the group and their inclusion is for them to get daily news updates from all political parties as news are breaking wherever they are and whenever they go on campaigns.

“I understand we cannot rule out occasional altercations and brickbats but let’s do so with all civility, please. Remember that these political actors are the same and are merely bonded by their interests which on most occasions are anchored on ‘end justifies the means’.

“As journalists whether you are in government today or in the opposition, remember that we will always meet on some other occasions and we must not see ourselves as enemies, while carrying out the functions assigned to us by our principals.

“Let’s be guided and we should not make unnecessary enemies as we strive to outdo one another.”