The Abia State Chairman of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro has assured that the union will continue to report the activities of the state government objectively.
This is even as the OMPAN boss also vowed that the union will hold the state government accountable and question its decisions and policies that are anti-people.
He also said the Union under his watch cannot be a stooge of any government nor allow opposition politicians hijack its activities.
The OMPAN Boss who stated this during the unions interactive session held at the Umuahia North local government area Multi Purpose hall, after its two days tour of governor Alex Otti’s ptojects in the state, said that the essence of the tour was to visit the completed and ongoing project sites of the state government , verify the projects and report to Abians how far the government is going to fulfil its promises to the people.
Chief Uzoma who stated that OMPAN was impressed with the completed and ongoing infrastructural development of the state government called on the Governor to urge contractors to speed up work and ensure close monitoring in order for the contractors to deliver according to project specifications.
The OMPAN chairman who noted that Governor Otti is gradually changing the narratives of governance in the last one year of his administration, called for openness in the activities of the state government.
He further appreciated Governor Otti for the recognition and support to OMPAN under his leadership and assured Abians that the union will continue to play its watchdog role as a member the fourth estate of the realm.
“As a Union practicing in Abia, it will be foolhardy, it will be tantamount to opposing the peace and development for us to be cantankerous to the administrative Policies of the current government of Abia State “
“Part of the primary functions of the press is to Entertain, Inform and Educate and as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we decided to have an Independent assessment of some of the projects that the state government said they have done and that was what we did in the two days.”
“We are not moved by what people are saying because for people to be talking about OMPAN, it means that OMPAN is waxing stronger”
“We have supported previous administration before now and the current administration in Abia won’t be an exception, we will support the government when necessary and criticize them where necessary“ he said.
He appreciated Gov. Otti for finding time to honour the association’s invitation to the town hall meeting and assured that the meeting has provided its members the opportunity to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the activities and some of the policies of the state government.
Earlier in his address, the Governor of Abia State Dr Alex Otti represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the state government was excited with the tour of its projects by members of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria in the state.
The Governor said his administration will continue to pay special attention to Road Infrastructure, Health, Education, Waste Management and Security.
Otti who noted the importance of the media to the development of any nation, called on OMPAN members to continue to hold the government accountable to its promises to the people.
