From John Adams, Minna
The Special Adviser to Niger State governor on Communications, Media and Strategy, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has said that the role of the Nigeria media is key to the survival of the Nigeria democracy, but regretted that political leaders in the country have failed to give the media the respect and recognition it deserves.
Vatsa said the political leaders must see the Nigeria media as a critical stakeholder in the country’s democratic journey and not a liability, stressing that politicians in the country should understand that they need the media more than the media needs them.
Vatsa, who is a former commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, emphasised this when he paid a courtesy visit to the office of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council in Minna, as part of his state-wide consultations with the media.
Vatsa, who recalled the role of the media in his day as the pioneer publicity secretary of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, admitted that the media played a critical role in the victory of his party during the 2015 general elections, adding that the media has the ability to make or mar any government.
The governor’s aide said he was in the Correspondents Chapel office to seek their cooperation and partnership in the “New Niger Agenda” of the Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s led government, and therefore expressed the readiness of the government to work with the media for effective coverage of his activities and programme in the state.