Govt. should allow Journalists to work without intimidation – Comrade Onikanhun
Yesterday, Friday 16th, August 2024 in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, a new online media outlet with the name ‘Insidekwara’ was launched.
The mini launching took place at the Crystal House hall which had in attendance the SSA to Kwara governor, Mallam Ibraheem Abdullateef Akolu, Comrade Abdulwahab Onikahun, the president of online media houses in the state, ASKOMP, Saliu Shola Taofiq among prominent Kwara youth.
A face-off session took place on the topic, *The Sounds of Silence in the Media: Is Government Killing the Media Freedom?* which was anchored by Comr. Mutolib Ayobami.
“The success of Otoge was due to the surge of media in the state, this surge opened the minds of the people to the lapses in the state. This is to put to you how crucial media freedom is in shaping society” the SSA said when asked about the importance of media freedom.
On the other side, Comr. Onikahun stated that ‘media freedom takes place when and where journalists will express, cover, and tell a story as it is without fear of intimidation’.
The anchor asked the SSA how the government has handled criticisms, ‘Any time a criticism flies around, the government takes drastic steps and action against the issue and deals with it and ensures it is sorted.’
Onikahun, on the other hand, said, ‘We need more enlightenment programs on the roles of media in society, for it will give the people the right sense of education on what needs to be done and where it should be done without minding whose ox is gored.”
On the final note, Onikahun urged media houses in Kwara to delve into real journalism by giving unbiased reportage of happenings as they unfold in the state.
Abdullateef assured the outlet of government partnership to build a better Kwara and also urged the outlet to look more into areas of journalism that are being neglected by paying adequate attention to various communities, religious associations, and the private sector.