A frontline political leader in Imo State, High Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike, has expressed disappointment over the inability of the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and a former governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, of not being physically present during the maiden South East Media Summit in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Wednesday, August 14.
The Oyii of Igbo Land, contended that such attitude, including others absent had sent wrong signals of their lack of priority and encouragement towards the media practice despite its importance in moving the society forward both in government and private circles. Governor Uzodimma, Chief Ohakim and High Chief Dr. Michael Onuoha were the Special Guest of Honour, the Keynote Speaker and Chairman of the summit respectively. But non of them attended in person, but through their representatives.
Dr. Nwadike, a former presidential candidate, future wondered how such an important event which sought to address challenges in the southeast through the media could be shunned by key leaders despite its wide publicity. He, however, hailed media practitioners in the region for their efforts towards projecting as well as defending the cause of the southeast, encouraging them to do more.
Interacting with our correspondent on the sidelines, Dr. Nwadike who once served as Chief Political Adviser to Governor Uzodimma stated: “I must commend the southeast media practitioners for holding this very important summit powered by Horn Newspapers. The event is a story to tell as it included eminent persons in the society both in government and private sectors, award presentations and especially bringing to the front burner the issues of media development in relation to southeast progress.
However, I was disappointed as an analyst, a commentor and a leader in the South East that the major synoshow of the event like the chairman of the occasion, the special guest of honour, the keynote speaker were bodily and physically absent, instead being represented. An we know the importance of the press as the Fourth Estate of the Realm that will dessiminate information of what you’re doing to develop the area where you’re presiding over.
Of course, it is the press whether through the traditional or social media, that informs the people about the activities of the government or the industry of the day. But something as auspicious as the southeast media summit did not witness the attendance of the most important guests that people should look up to. And yet the theme of that summit was the development of the media and digitalization in the southeast and all of that. Then, who will promote it?
Most of the people who came to represent their principals talked about development without providing how. What people needed was the presence of the people who will carry out the development. In this case, they should have shown leadership by example through stronger commitment to issues that matters. It is unfortunate that leaders in the southeast always shun important events like launching of books, media matters among others intellectual events.”
The astute politician further harped on the need for southeast leaders to provide critical support for the media like the provision of a computer village among others, adding that such commitment was expected of the major guests who stayed away from the summit. He encouraged leaders against ignorance of the benefits of the media globally in promoting the interest of the society, while urging practitioners to strengthen their exploits for the good of the zone, leveraging the summit’s lecture.
Meanwhile, the summit with the theme: “The Media, Ethical Responsibility and Democracy: South East in Perspective” also witnessed Dr. Ejike Chukwu, Prof Vitalis Ajumbe; High Chief Mike Ejiogu, Chief John-Paul Ochemba, Dr. Mrs Stella Onuoha-Obilor and Okenze Sysvester Obinna receiving various meritorious awards.
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