Govt, Media Not Opponents, Says Information Minister

The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that, despite occasional misunderstandings, the government and the media are not opponents but partners in nation-building.

Idris shared this view during a courtesy visit by the management of The Guardian to his office yesterday in Abuja.

“I do not believe that the government and the Fourth Estate are opponents, but, rather, partners in the arduous task of nation building, a task that occasionally brings divergent perspectives and approaches,” he said.

Idris added that the task of nation-building is hinged on a collective responsibility. Even more so, as society’s watchdog, the media is expected to be more vigilant in protecting the nation’s democracy, peace, and unity, without which we may experience serious diminishing returns in the community of nations.

He identified The Guardian as a leading media powerhouse whose history is synonymous with Nigeria’s struggle for representative democracy and the fight against military rule, pointing out that, as such, it should continue to be a pro-democracy spearhead and not yield any grounds to any destabilising notions.

He said it was important that the media grasp the noble intentions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which is steeped in visionary reforms that will turn around Nigeria’s socio-economic fortunes.

In his remarks, the chief executive officer of The Guardian, Mr Toke Ibru, said their organisation, widely acclaimed as the flagship of the Nigerian press, is still a torch-bearer in the consolidation process of the nation’s democracy and will continue to promote the ideals of unity, peace, and national security.

The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Comfort Ajiboye, attended the meeting.

Other management staff on the entourage of Mr Ibru included Mr Martins Oloja, Editorial Board member, Dr Oluwafemi Adekoya, Editor, and Chuks Nwanne, general manager, Abuja-Northern Operations.