Internet journalism has been hailed as a welcome development in information dissemination. It is fast and conveys the news to the readers quickly to be abreast of developments around the world. No doubt, it is the future. This probably explains the ubiquitous sites currently on line posturing as news sources. But this innovation, events have shown, has also come with serious challenges. Readers necessarily have to be careful about these such online news sources otherwise we are fed with outright lies in the name of information dissemination. While some sites easily pass as credible, others are just petty in their orchestration of falsehood. Welcome to yellow journalism online! A case in point is Sahara Reporters. On the surface, this news site purports to serve the common good. However, as many would have realized, it is devoted to muck raking, and should be a huge source of worry to the professional news purveyors. Bastardising the ethics of news reporting, and sacrificing truth for falsehood for self-serving motives is a disservice to the journalism profession. Of late, Sahara Reporters, it would seem, has elected to make sport out of Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson. The governor has become a regular target for false and incredulous stories on Sahara Reporters.
Ordinarily one would have ignored this obsession. However, the heightening frequency of such tales on the governor and his leadership style, if unpunctured, might like all propaganda stuff, pass for the truth.
Saharareporters appears bent on a hatchet job of defaming and blackmailing Governor Seriake Dickson. It is that bad!
Just recently, Saharareporters typically alleged that Governor Dickson is usually too busy with stuff in Abuja that he hardly has the time to stay in Yenagoa. Claimed the site: “He (Governor Dickson) comes here (Yenagoa) only sparingly, when it pleases him”. Now the discerning public should be curious on the motives for the repeated lies that have become the stock in trade of Sahara Reporters. Watchers of events in Bayelsa State would readily admit that Governor Dickson hit the ground running. In the past one year, even though “sparingly present in Yenagoa”, he has done enough to earn public acclaim, particularly among Bayelsans (who should know).
Not that we don’t know the brains behind such ludicrous stories, but should any news outfit worth its salt be collaborators in peddling such falsehood? This question should prick the conscience of the people in Saharareporters. For the records, Governor Dickson, like other governors, visits President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. This is as the need arises. Of course, the visits cannot be frequent enough to abandon the business of governance in Bayelsa State. As governor, Hon. Dickson visits Abuja for such meetings as Council of State, National Economic Council, party NEC, among others. Ditto for the other governors. Therefore, dubbing him “Aso Rock house boy” is most uncharitable to say the least. Of course, the number and spread of projects in Bayelsa- from the artery of roads and bridges, agriculture, tourism, to job and wealth creation projects- could not have been possible were Governor Dickson an itinerant governor. Beyond doubt, we now have a totally new environment in Bayelsa State where things are working for the good of the people. What should interest Saharareporters is the reality that Bayelsans now see the locust years through their rear view mirrors. We now have a patriotic and well- focused leadership in Governor Dickson- much to the delight of the people of Bayelsa.
These aside, the orientation and social re awakening have evolved so well to give meaning to substantive leadership that is driving the apparatus of government to greater productivity. We now have such robust democracy re—engineered to promote openness, transparency and justice. The graft-ridden years have gone for good. These are very positive developments that should elicit the interest of a credible and professional news organization, not the usual mundane reportage bordering on beer parlour rumour and all manner of political cocktail that readily find space in Sahara Reporters.
To be sure, we know that truth shall prevail in the end and that the glowing light in the glory of all nations shall shine brighter, overcoming the gloom darkness being orchestrated by Sahara Reporters and its sponsors. Bayelsa State under the watch of Governor Seriake Dickson is moving forward with remarkable strides in economic, social and political development. The polity is now stable, providing the desired environment for everybody to live and do their legitimate businesses much unlike in the recent past. This is salutary and worthy of commendation by all lovers of our dear state. In spite of such uncivilized and unprofessional activities of the Sahara Reporters in spreading lies and half-truth as news items, we are happy and grateful to our energetic and visionary governor for keeping his word. Yes, Governor Dickson has so far been implementing all he promised the good people of Bayelsa State during his electioneering campaign upon which he was rewarded with massive votes and elected governor.
Barely a year in office, Dickson’s achievements speak volumes of what to expect from this focused and well-meaning leader who is out to serve the people. Whatever may be the next story on our dear governor on Saharareporters won’t be an issue any more because many have now run away with the impression that Sahara Reporters is devoted to mudslinging, blackmail and peddling all manners of lies for selfish ends. How sad! But we are happy in Bayelsa State, the people are applauding the governor who is making a difference in our lives.
Daniel Markson-Iworison is Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dickson.
