The Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said the relationship between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration and the media remains cordial, constructive and mutually beneficial, assuring that the government will continue to strengthen engagement with journalists across the state.
Oghenesivbe, in a statement , said the clarification became necessary following recent comments on social media concerning the media engagement strategy of the present administration, particularly the suggestion that the quarterly press briefing format used by previous administrations was no longer being sustained. He said the government considered it important to provide the necessary context and clarify that its engagement with the media had continued through a number of complementary platforms.
According to him, the administration had, since its inception, adopted various channels of communication and engagement with the media, including periodic breakfast meetings with journalists, media briefings by senior government officials and interviews through conventional and broadcast media platforms.
He explained that while previous administrations adopted regular quarterly press briefings as part of their media engagement strategy, the present administration has complemented existing approaches with the Governor’s periodic breakfast meetings, particularly with the leadership of the Government House Correspondents and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council.
The Bureau DG said the breakfast meetings provide an informal but purposeful setting for direct interaction between the Governor, members of his team and journalists, enabling government officials to provide relevant information and respond to questions on policies, programmes and developments in the state. He noted that such engagements also give journalists an opportunity to seek clarification on issues of public interest.
Oghenesivbe said the administration remained committed to maintaining open channels of communication with the media, stressing that media engagement could take different forms depending on prevailing circumstances and communication needs. He added that the government would continue to review its communication strategies and make appropriate adjustments where necessary, while ensuring that journalists have access to relevant information on government policies, programmes and achievements.
He further noted that senior government officials, including the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, have continued to interface with journalists and provide updates on government activities. He also cited the Governor’s recent interview with Arise News as part of the administration’s broader effort to communicate directly with the public on matters of governance and development.
Oghenesivbe said the administration valued constructive criticism from journalists, civil society groups and members of the public, describing responsible scrutiny as an important component of democratic governance. He disclosed that Governor Oborevwori recently donated a new 18-seater bus to the Delta State Council of the NUJ to support the logistics and operational needs of journalists.
He assured members of the Fourth Estate that the cordial relationship between the government and the media would continue to be nurtured and strengthened in the collective interest of Delta State.
