Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has urged journalists to hold government officials accountable, rather than give them awards on the basis of “friendship”.
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He stated this on Friday when the national leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the government house in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. According to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant to to the governor on media, said there was a need for journalists to put in more efforts as the “strong voice and conscience of the society.
“What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us — the people in authority — and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be,” he said.