Criticize govt constructively – Udoh tasks journalists

The Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to Governor Umo Eno has urged journalists to ensure they criticize constructively in areas where government performances are yet to meet set standards.

He added that they can also key into the state government’s agenda by helping to promote its ideals and applauding it in areas it has done well.

Udoh said this when the new Executive of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Uyo, on Thursday.

He said Akwa Ibom has been lucky to have good governors since the return of democracy attributing the rapid development and world-class infrastructure to the quality of Governors in successive administrations of the state.

“It is not an understatement that the state has been lucky with the quality of Governors it has produced since the return of democracy. Right from Obong Victor Attah through Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Mr Udom Emmanuel and now Mr Umo Eno.

“Akwa Ibom has become a reference point when you are talking about development within the sub-nationals in Nigeria. For instance, if you know how Uyo, the state capital was in the 80s, a glorified rural area with thatch and mud houses in some major streets with just one modest guest house in those days, you will understand what I mean.

“We are not calling for a pliant press but we want the media to key into Governor Umo Eno’s agenda by helping to promote its ideals, applauding the government in areas it has done well and criticize constructively in areas that performance is yet to meet set standards.”

In his remarks, the Correspondents Chapel Chairman, Anthony Bassey called for a partnership between the State Government and Correspondents in the state.

Bassey called for increased editorial relationship between the office of the CPS and the Correspondents Chapel in the state adding that such would not jeopardise the quality and factuality of reports from the Correspondents about the activities and actions of the state government and its officials.