When an outfit decides to use it’s pages to beg for meals by write-ups that don’t add up
Desert Herald as unprofessional as it has been in degrading females in politics referring to one of its recent reports that should have been in court. In search for acceptance Desert Herald has degenerated to the point of nothingness but wishing that it’s fallacy on paper will attract stipends. I am sorry to disappoint them that this is a government that walks the talk. The era of when writing in quote ‘nonsense they will call you to the table for dinner is over.
I am pleased to say that I would have wasted so much of my ink to tell you of our numerous projects not until the folly of the Desert Herald normally described in pidgin English as “abeg give us something make we keep quiet)..,. Keep quiet on what? The lies or assumptions, well it is now clear that the impenetrable SSG Bashir Ahmed is your nightmare. Instead of disdain your planned rather you exposed our government gigantic projects all over the place.
Desert Herald ended up explaining the open door policy of the governor in peeping into areas that needed to be part of the communal integration of the state. Further more they unconsciously mentioned his great love for the various clans in Adamawa state by doing everything to make sure they have equal benefit and dividends of democracy.
The picture they ended up painting is that of a Governor always looking out for opportunity to be a father to all and not a favourite of one.
The trophy has just been handed to the Governor for fighting to transform a backward state into an ideal module for the nation. Now we see why credible Media outfit like the “Leadership News awarded the Executive Governor recently great recognition for performance and certainly good governance.
Desert Herald should be learning fast that when its writeup is clearly indicating that they are rather groping in the dark and yet to settle down into real journalism.
Once again, our attention has been drawn to the barrage of attacks from this already obscure media known as the “Desert Herald” I have had to grapple with a poorly written and lackluster reportage, trying to make sense of it, to no avail. The quality of write-ups in any print media tells a lot about the quality of its editors and ultimately, its publishers.
It is rather unfortunate that the publishers of Desert Herald surreptitiously sometimes back used a photo shot opportunity with the revered Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to launder its image in a previous publication.
Certainly HRH Sanusi is not privy to the derogatory and denigrating story the publication has recently carried about a lady politician in Adamawa State calling her unprintable names on the basis of her gender. HRH Sanusi Lamido definitely wouldn’t have given the publishers any audience. The defamed lady is still in consultation on the best legal action to take against the publishers of Desert Herald.
The Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri led administration has chosen to ignore all infinitesimal attention seekers and march on with its giant developmental strides for the State. However, in the interest of the good people of Adamawa state, let us set the records straight.
It is on record that the ATM Governor ran an extremely lean cabinet for the first year of his administration to save cost. Even when the Governor eventually made appointment of commissioners, advisers and assistants, he kept it lean and cut off all frivolous allowances, all in a bid to reduce the cost of Governance in the state.
Consequently, it is out of place for Desert Herald to insinuate that the Governor would allow any frivolous spending or financial impropriety. Every project in the state undergoes due process and legislative approval. The bidding processes, award of contracts and financial implications are open to public scrutiny. The Desert Herald ought to do its due diligence.
Furthermore, the Publication referred to the construction of the first flyover and interchange in the state as irrelevant projects. It is on record that this projects is arguably the largest in the whole of Northern Nigeria ( many roads to and fro the roundabout).It takes a visionary leader to think futuristically and avoid the obvious bottleneck that is bound to evolve in no distant future.
For the purpose of enlightenment to Desert Herald, an interchange is defined as “a road junction that uses grade separation and ramps to permit traffic in at least one highway to pass through the junction without interruption from other crossing traffic streams” Put simply, the interchange makes driving easier more convenient and faster. That project is already a tourist attraction.
Most unfortunately the publication refers to the construction of roads, bridges and electrification, as “projects not in tandem with the needs of the people” A large population of the good people of Adamawa state are farmers that need roads to transport their farm produce to the markets, artisans and small scale businesses need electricity to function, yet the publication is oblivious of these facts.
It is preposterous to even fathom the idea that the Governor didn’t consult with the people before embarking on infrastructural projects. Certainly, the publishers were oblivious of the various consultations and town hall meetings with relevant stakeholders and reputable media houses embarked upon by the Governor before embarking on the projects. The ignorance of the Desert Herald cannot be excused.
For many years Infrastructural Development in Adamawa state had become moribund and comatose. With the advent of the AUF administration, it is obvious that Adamawa State has become a huge construction site with caterpillars and cranes in every nook and cranny of the state yet, a few disgruntled politicians are using Desert Herald as a smokescreen to vent their anger towards a Governor that has rejected the personal aggrandisement of a few individuals that see Adamawa as a cash cow.
Desert Herald trying to play on religious and tribal sentiments is an exercise in futility. Adamawa is one of the most heterogeneous states in Nigeria in terms of tribe, culture and religion .It is common place to find families comprising of both Muslims and Christians. It takes a unifier and bridge builder as AUF to accommodate the various diversities in the state and create a sense of belonging for all.
Even his cabinet is heterogeneous with a unique mix of all the major tribes and the two dominant religions. As far as the AUF administration is concerned, all tribes are equally important, none superior, none inferior. Every part of the state finds adequate representation in his cabinet thus the allusion that some tribes are favoured, holds no water.
The publication particularly alluded to the Bachamas and ffulanis .The Deputy Governor is of the Bachama extraction but relates to the Governor as a brother and ally. More so, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and some key commissioners are from the Numan federation so one tends to wonder were the allegation of nepotism or religious bias is emanating from as reported by the said publication.
The SSG, Bashir Ahmed is of the Fulani extraction and well loved and respected amongst his people. He has proven himself to be a reliable ally to the Governor and a grass root mobiliser. The SSG has been a bastion for his people and instrumental to a forthcoming event where massive defectors from other parties would be formally welcomed into the PDP in Yola North and Yola South respectively.
Furthermore, the publication desperately seeks to create a conjecture that there is a tribal rivalry amongst the various tribes in the state due to citing of projects. They refer to the loan obtained by the Government for construction of a residential estate in Yola South.
If they had done a due diligence, they would have discovered that the project is on course pending the end of the harvest season so as to give the indigenous people the opportunity to harvest their crops before construction would commence in earnest. The Governor has a humane heart and would rather allow the people harvest their crops before work in earnest commences.
The publication went further to erroneously state that Mubi and Maiha do not have state projects ongoing oblivious of the fact that the hospital in Mubi is being upgraded to a general hospital while the secondary school is being refurbished and equipped with better learning facilities. In the same vein, construction of the Maiha-Pela road which had been abandoned for ages is ongoing and the hospital in Maiha is being upgraded to a cottage hospital.
At least clearly, the publication recognizes that Yola, Michika and Madagali have been littered with projects. If only they knew that literally every local government is experiencing a litany of massive infrastructural development and people oriented projects.
Sensationalism is an integral part of journalism but when a print media continuously and consistently reports “ONLY” fake news, and fallacies, then there is more than meets the eyes. Where then lies the maxim of balanced reporting in journalism….where lies the ethics of responsible journalism?
For the few that are yet to know, Desert Herald desperately made overtures to the State Government in the past for a business opportunity which was declined in the interest of state owned media firms. Resorting to wild goose chase to tarnish the image of the administration would not change the resoluteness of the AUF administration.
Obviously, due to the vicissitudes of the times, and financial desertification, Desert Herald is becoming more desperate and has made itself readily available as an appendage and propaganda office for any disgruntled politician.
When a media firm becomes nebulous, obscure and irrelevant, it often resorts to desperate measures.
It is high time Desert Herald came to terms that their overtures were then rejected in the past, and would still be rejected if ever they came back cap in hand .A perusal of the said publication reveals unfortunately, that no reputable organization advertises in their publication, only strange products that promote lewdness. No wonder the desperation.
Desert Herald is quickly becoming a show of shame of beggars at the gate waiting for crumbs instead of doing the job of rightly informing the people on facts. I think I rather say like the good man “Silver and Gold have I non but I give to you good knowledge on issues as they stand not assumptions as Desert Herald.
This movement is not just the Governor alone but the loving people of Adamawa state united by the ATM governor’s agenda of a state bound by one purpose irrespective of tribal,religious or political affiliation.
Mr Victor Dogo
SSA Social Mobilization
To the Executive Governor
Of Adamawa state
Wrote this Yola
