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| Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Reporters |
Our attention has been drawn to a report by SaharaReporters,
dated November 29, 2015, with the headline “Governor Dickson hoodwinks
ex-President Jonathan to commission uncompleted flyover bridge”, stating in the
body that the said bridge “has major defects, including visible cracks at
its joints”.
Interestingly, the whole report was attributed to “an engineer in
the state”, and the byline read “by SaharaReporters, New York”,
meaning SaharaReporters was not at the commissioning but based its
reports on hearsay? Obviously a sponsored narrative as we are reliably told the
bogus online publication has been paid a whooping N100 m to
carry out similar hatchet job in the state for the purpose of the governorship
election?
We are really alarmed by this kind of irresponsible
journalism as carried out by SaharaReporters because the said report
was plainly false and a dishonourable attempt to discredit the good
work and record of Governor Seriake Dickson.
This is a bridge that has been acclaimed to be a well-thought
effort by the Bayelsa State Government not
only to discongestthe anticipated traffic in
that very busy corridor of the state, now growing into a city
but a remarkable job done by no less a construction company than Julius
Berger. The economic value is also obvious.
The bridge is arguably world class and adjudged as such in
terms of standard and quality as a signature of Julius Berger’s
professionalism. It has been completed for the past five months but
was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the
ceremonies rounding off Dickson’s campaign.
We hasten to feel proud that being a major mark of Dickson’s
performance record, if it will bolster his re-election bid, so be it.It can
never be a shameful thing, contrary to SaharaReportersjaded
view, that the Restoration Government in Bayelsa State is
showcasing its good deeds and if that is a headache toSaharaReporters and
its APC sponsors, so be it.
The APC candidate was in power for five years
but Bayelsanscan only remember him for the massive debts he left behind.
We are very glad that Dickson has made a huge difference and we can
only applaud his leadership sincerity and purpose.
His remarkable feats are well recognized by the good people
ofBayelsa State and why they are routing for his re-election as no amount
of such evil publication will dissuade the people in theiravowal to retain
him at the Creek Haven. On December 5, this groundswell of the people’s support
will be validated in a massive victory.
Importantly, we need to point out that we can no less agree
withDr. Olatunji Dare, who recently in his column expressed worries
about the evil the internet-based publications constitute in our country.
Agreed, no law yet regulates this band of publications including
the social media but the earlier the National Assembly takes a stand on this by
enacting appropriate regulating laws the better for our collective sanity.
Journalism is a noble profession but over the
years desecrated byall manner of people without formal
training and as such could not know that journalism is founded on
truth and objectivity.
This is an important point we should worry
aboutSaharaReporters and its unfounded reports which
are now well known among the populace as a negative corporate
image. No wonder the libel cases are heaping.
Jonathan Obuebite
Director of Publicity
Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organization
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