…Says His Doors Are Open for Media Advise

The lawmaker representing Akoko North-west/Akoko north-east federal constituency at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, Honourable Ife Ehindero, has described the role of the media on national development as immeasurable and a sector any success-driven lawmakers must harness in their legislative duties for national development.

Ehindero made the declaration during a courtesy call on him in his office at the National Assembly, by members of Ondo State journalists under the aegis of the Ondo State Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OSMEPAN), on Friday.

Hon. Ife Ehindero addressing the newsmen in his office.[/caption]

Addressing the visiting journalists, Hon Ehindero expressed profound appreciation. He was quick to encourage OSMEPAN not to relent on the Ondo state project they embarked on. He pledged his readiness to partner with the journalists on any agenda geared towards the progress of the state and Nigeria at large.

The Oyin-Akoko lawmaker speaks:

“I must commend you and thank you for finding the time for this visit. When I saw your letter, that you are coming for this visit, I told my Media Officer, Blessing Akeju, that he should schedule a meeting, so that we can interact.

Hon. Ife Ehindero (center, in white), with the journalists.[/caption]

“As far as anything Ondo State is concerned, the reality that we are far from home means that we must always look out to see how we can work together as you have said.

“When it comes to the media, you have a very vital role to play given the kind of information at your disposal, which your representatives may not have; and when you consider the number of years many of you have spent in the media space, you have a lot of information regarding legislative arm of government, which people like us who are just coming to the National Assembly might not have.

"This information may help us because there are some bills that they have moved in the past, that have not passed the first,  second, and third reading. Those bills might be important Bills that one might have to move again.

“When you have people in the media, who can remind the legislature that someone tried to move this Bill so so time, and these Bills are still hanging; someone in the media can remind you that such bills need to be revisited, probably “you can try it this way or that to see if it will fly”.

“So the role of the media is so vast and very important to national development,” Ehindero stressed.

Eulogising the newsmen, Ehindero pledged his readiness to work with the journalists on a mutually beneficial relationship that will advance the cause of his constituency, Ondo state, and the nation.

“On my part, I look forward to working with you people for such information, because everybody wants to succeed.

“I consider it nationalistic and important for you guys to be here on this visit. I find it venerable, and I say thank you.

“Sincerely, my doors are open. I am looking forward to what we can do together, and please don’t hesitate to let me know any areas you feel we can work together; I will look forward to it.” He said.

The youth-driven lawmaker speaks on the repository of abundant potential among the youth. He expressed his willingness to push for the development of skills and training opportunities for youths as a lawmaker, with a focus on the Media among others.

“We have a lot of young people that are very much interested in the media, but they don’t have the skill. So if you people can come up with a way to train our people, we can. For example, agencies such as the Industrial Training Fund can even help.

“These are some of the things we can do together, to bring our youths out and train them. So I am very much open to you, and I know that with people like you, success is very sure by the special grace of God.

“So this meeting is the bedrock of our relationship that will take us to a higher level by the special grace of God.

“I am very humble about this visit and I say thank you”.

“I can see that you people are veterans in your field. I can also see one of you here who contributed to my campaigns in no small measure, Israel Fagbemigun.

In their presentation, the visiting journalists led by its national coordinator and the Publisher of RegnetAfrica Times newspapers, Shola Akingboye, earlier in his comment could not hide the feelings of his team for the honour to meet with the lawmaker. The journalist expatiates the mission of the association, He highlighted the need to join hands with Ondo lawmakers in addressing various challenges affecting Ondo state, using their various platforms as the voice of the people.

He speaks: “As part of our agenda for Ondo state, as a body of journalists who came together in pursuit of one single agenda, the wellbeing of our state and its citizens wherever they reside; we also take into cognizance the potential of our state as an oil-producing state, and the huge benefits to derive from such at the national level.

“Over the years, our state has been denied its place in the scheme of things; we were denied the quota of the workforce reserve for oil states at the NNPC and no one is making noise over this. The leadership of the NDDC is rigged against the interest of our state, yet we have lawmakers representing our state at NASS over the years.

"Yearly, ocean wave sweeps properties worth billions of naira and the economic relevance of our people in the coastal areas of Ilaje communities, which primarily are the responsibility of the federal government to protect; yet everyone slept over this. No one clamours for the restoration of electricity to the perpetual darkness Okitipupa and its environs have suffered in the Ondo south, for many years running.

"These and many more issues bothering the well-being of Ondo State and her citizens are reasons we came together as journalists.

"We, therefore took it upon ourselves, as an association of media practitioners with headquarters in Abuja, to liaise and collaborate with our representatives at the national level and pursue agendas that'll serve our people and their economic interests.

"If we don't sing our songs, no one will, and if we don't blow our trumpet, no one will do it for us.

“It is on this note that, this body of journalists decided to identify with individuals and more importantly lawmakers from our state, whose agendas fit in ours.” Akingboye opined.

While commending Honourable Ife Ehindero's political trajectory, the leader of the group reiterated the importance of people’s oriented projects expected from their representatives.

"At the constituency end, we shall be identifying with lawmakers from the state, those with peoples oriented projects shall be promoted through our various media platforms.

“As journalists, we shall nose for such activities and would encourage our lawmakers in that direction.

Sir, having monitored your moves within the short period you have spent at NASS, as one of the vibrant youth this association is proud to have representing Ondo state, we considered it a priority to use our various platforms to promote your agendas, both at the national and at your constituency level.

"We shall be monitoring your activities at the national and the state level, as it affects the general interests of our state, and Nigeria, in line with the spirit for which OSMEPAN is birthed," Akingboye added.

Corroborating Akingboye, the Deputy National Coordinator of the body, John Olasunkanmi Oba, of the Blue Print Newspaper, explains the reach of the association, which covers all strata of the media.

“Our members cut across the entire news medium, broadcast, print media, and online Platforms.  All major mediums are well represented in the association. We have members from the NTA, Channels, AIT, FRCN, NAN, This Day, People’s Daily, and The Nation etc, including vibrant online platforms.

“What we are doing and here to do is that we want to feature our own. We are here to beam our searchlight on your activities, both at the state and national levels, and promote what other lawmakers are doing in their various constituencies.

“Just as you have taken the bold step to invite us for this meeting, your predecessor, the Hon Minister of Interior, BTO, before he was appointed as the Minister was prepared to meet with us save for his tight schedules at the time. 

“As media practitioners, we shall defend the interest of our state, our representatives, and other professionals from all walks of life who have the interests of our state at heart, no matter how bad any situation may be around them, we will surely defend our own at all time”. Olasunkanmi assured.

It would be recalled that the Oyin-Akoko-born APC lawmaker replaced Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo who vacated his seat in the House of Representatives after he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the Minister.