The Chairman of AIT and Ray Power FM, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has accused state governors of managing the affairs of their states in secret.
Speaking to newsmen in Calabar on Wednesday shortly after the opening ceremony of 2019 National Broadcasting summit with theme: ‘Broadcasting and democracy emerging security imperatives’, Dokpesi lambasted state governors for non-openness.
“A lot of the governors believe that the duty of governance is their personal right. If you are passing a budget, it is only fit and proper for it to be debated in the state house of assembly.”
He said, the media should be well involved in the affairs of government in the states.
“The media should be fully involved and the people well educated because that will eliminate the possibility of rumour being disseminated.
“You remove the possibility of disinformation and misinformation that comes thereafter. I want to also implore the governors that there is the need to be able to have a social media and new media that is responsible and responsive.
“They should also let us have the ethics of democracy which is that they should be transparent, budgets should be made available as enshrined in the constitution, that the media should hold them accountable and they should be able to explain.
“How will you explain that the electoral commission that is embarking on elections, that N244 billion is being spent and not even a dime is provided for voter education, in getting people ready for the elections?
“If you don’t let these facts known to the public, then any speculation that comes in, don’t blame the media look at yourself. See the media as your partners and work together with them.
“The state information officers were used by the colonial masters to promote and propagate the policies, they want to embark upon so let us have this in mind,” he stated.
Chief Dokpesi, however, commended the Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, on his presentation but noted, “The governor of the state made a very useful presentation as a person in the driver’s seat where he has experienced.
“The devastating effect of the impact of social media on the peace and stability of the state through the dissemination of falsehood, I am happy he has been able to limit it to the social media and not the traditional media.
“That notwithstanding, it is my believe that it calls for more openness and transparency in the management of the affairs of the country,” he said.
