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By Emmanuel Udoatta
The Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom State Branch and Publisher of Radar Newspaper, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, has called on media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State to showcase the achievements and successes of the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration with a view to bringing the achievements to the public rather than focusing on the shortcomings of the government. He added that every government, even in advanced democracies, has its shortcomings.
Comrade Isong made the assertion in his Uyo office today, June 18, 2019, when he granted audience to the Publisher of The Creek Magazine, Hon. Ubong Ekefre.
Franklyn Isong explained that the administration of Udom Emmanuel has recorded a lot of successes in agriculture, health, power, security, road construction, infrastructure, capacity development, and industrialization but noted, sadly, that the achievements are not given sufficient publicity in the media even by the government in the past four years, which, according to Isong, is the reason that these successes are still in doubt in the minds of the people of the State.
He appealed to media practitioners in the State to shun partisan politics and focus on developmental journalism in their reportage and coverage of government activities in order for the Udom Emmanuel’s government to concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy through its completion agenda. He said that with the elections now over, undue politicization should be jettisoned.
Isong, who in 2013 emeeged as an NUJ double award wining journalist, enjoined the publisher and editorial crew of The Creek to do more investigative and developmental journalism if the magazine must create impact in the State.
Earlier, the publisher of The Creek, who is a former council chairman of Mkpat Enin local government area, Ubong Ekefre, said he had decided to pay a visit to The Radar publisher because of his outstanding achievements in the media and objective stance of the publisher on public issues.
Ekefre commended Isong for remaining steadfast and consistence in his views and writeups.
Ekefre noted that The Creek Magazine is borne out of the pressing need for a dedicated voice to herald the plight of the Niger Delta region to all parties concerned.
“In the build up to the last general elections, we were part of the campaign trail of Rt. Hon. Francis Uduyok, member representing Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo in the House of Representatoves. The adventure to the creeks of Eastern Obolo was one that could not be forgotten in a hurry. The plight of the inhabitants is contemptible. Life’s essentials, such as good drinking water, schools, power supply and sewage system, are all luxuries which they cannot afford,” Ekefre said.
He thanked Isong for the audience and solicited advice on the best approach to position the stable in the media space of the State.
