Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said that the significance of media in democratic governance was immeasurable.
He stated this on Thursday during the 2024 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The three-day conference has the theme: “Economic Growth and Development Strategies In Resource-Rich Country”.
According to him, as the fourth pillar of democracy, the press educates, informs and entertains, shaping public agenda and debate.
“Democracy relies heavily on the press to thrive.
“As ethnic nationalities and diverse interests vie for attention, your work serves as a beacon of hope, promoting understanding and unity.
“In these turbulent times around our nation and the world at large, your role as guardians of truth is more critical than ever.
“Integrity remains the cornerstone of your profession; building trust with the public and fortifying the foundations of a healthy democracy is your mandate.
“The theme of this conference – Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country – is both relevant and timely.
“We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable development.
“Our nation brims with abundant resources, yet poverty and underdevelopment persist across countless communities – a striking paradox.”
He said that Bayelsa was a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil and gas production, but pointed out that its inhabitants were faced with severe environmental challenges and economic hardship.
“For long we have been ignored, our stories dismissed, and our rights trampled. Yet we have decided not to be silenced or erased.”
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr, he declared that “the time is always right to do what is right”.
“Two recent events have strengthened my resolve to drive a thoughtful and intentional dialogue about responsible resource management in our country.
“It was my pleasure to join the University of Nigeria (UNN) community in Nsukka for their 64th Founder’s Day, where I presented a lecture focusing on the pivotal issues of structural inequality and imbalance within Nigeria’s federal structure.
“We must, for instance, rethink the outdated idea that States have rights to surface land, while the federal government monopolises valuable underground resources,” he explained.
The governor highlighted key issues, including fiscal autonomy and the restricted authority of governors, who are chief security officers in name only, as actual control rests elsewhere.
