Governor Diri pledges support for Bayelsa Indigenous Newspaper Publishers

By Austin Genesis  

     Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state has reaffirmed government commitment to strengthen the existing bond of relationship with indigenous state newspaper publishers to enhance effective dissemination of its policies and programmes to the nooks and crannies of the state and the outside world.

 Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state

     Governor Diri who spoke this through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah at a meeting conveyed by the Executives and members of the Bayelsa Federated Newspapers Publishers Association (BAFENPA)/Bayelsa Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) in Yenagoa, described the media as an indispensable tool that can never be down played in the development of any society.

Mr Daniel Alabrah,Chief Press Secretary to the Governor addressing Newspaper Publishers in Bayelsa State, in Yenagoa.

     Mr Alabrah highlighted the significance of indigenous newspapers in the information dissemination, asserting emphatically that they can never be underrated.

“The newspaper that can cause problem for you can be one obscure newspaper”, he said.

   On the various requests from the Associations to the state government, Mr Alabrah promised to present them to Governor Diri whom he lauded as a good listener for attention in order to enable newspaper publishers in the state to also feel the impacts of Governor Douye Diri’s prosperity government.

    He also assured to involved state newspaper publishers in the coverage of government activities devoid of discriminations.

    Mr Alabrah used the forum to laud them for acknowledging with appreciation and commendation to the Governor on the receipt of Governor Diri’s Covid 19 palliatives for Journalists in the state.

    His words “I appreciate the fact that you invited me to be here; and am here on behalf of the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri to say that we appreciate that you acknowledged the receipt of Covid 19 palliatives for journalists in the state.

    Actually, the palliatives came from the Governor, not a personal thing from the CPS,” he stated.

    Earlier in their opening remarks on behalf of members, both the chairman of Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA), Comrade Ayibatari Easterday and his Bayelsa Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) counterpart, Elder Union Oyandogha expressed deep appreciation to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa state, Mr Daniel Alabrah for his prompt response to their invitation to meet with him.

The chairman of Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA), Comrade Ayibatari Easterday speaking at the forum.

     The organizations assured their unflinching support to Governor Diri’s administration to enhance the rapid socio-economic, political and cultural transformation of the state.

   It lamented that since the inception of the present administration indigenous State Newspaper Publishers were ignored in the coverage of government activities in the state despite its importance in societal development; as a body made up of professional journalists who attaches high priority in the development of the state above individual interest.

    They called for a change of heart and emulate the high premium attached to Indigenous State Newspaper Publishers by previous administrations.

 

    Elder Union Oyadongha in his remarks made a serious appealed to Governor Diri to restore the monthly support given to Bayelsa State indigenous State Newspaper publishers by previous administrations which was introduced by late former Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha of blessed memory knowing well the important of state media support to the state government.

Elder Union Oyadongha,Chairman of the Bayelsa Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) 

    Comrade Ayibatari Easterday, Chairman of the apex newspaper publishing body in the state pleaded with Governor Diri to strengthen the existing bond of relationship between the state government  and indigenous  State Newspaper Publishers by carrying them along in his administration in order to achieve the desired optimum result.