Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said all tiers of government must learn to abide by the independence of the press. Speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State council secretariat, he said journalists must try to inform appropriately.

According to him, journalists armed with sufficient investigation must stand their ground despite pressures, avoid praise-singing, and being gagged, and continue to stay focused and work till the last day to make sure politics does not distract them. “I don’t want praise-singing; those who do not like things speak negatively. We do not gag the press. The building is seated on a choice land, one of the best in the city. We will continue to do our best not minding the opposition,” the governor stated. President of the NUJ, Chief Chris lsiguzo who expressed gratitude to the governor for bequeathing the edifice, assured that it would be taken good care of and preserved. He called on the government to build public trust, preserve press freedom, provide a conducive environment, know that the press is vulnerable to attacks owing to censorship and media ownership, and urged Nigerians to know that the press has a mediating role to save democracy.

Ada Peter