Savoring the joy of his investiture and decoration of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) patron ship, the young industrialist and chief executive of the Capital Oil Group, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has reiterated the importance of a robust and well- funded media sector.
He therefore appealed to and commiserated with all those currently passing through a hard time as a result of the maltreatment, sack, neglect and disdain to which they have been subjected in the Anambra state Broadcasting Service(ABS) and the National Light group of Newspapers by the authorities in the state, pledging to restore the glory of the organizations.
Dr Ubah who addressed a group of journalists shortly after receiving the award at Enugu at the recent maiden NUJ South East Media Summit stated that “under my watch when elected as the governor of Anambra state, the state radio and television stations will join the league of national and international media houses so that we can bring to the nation and the world the various transformations taking place in Anambra.
The media outfits will advertise the state in order to enhance the inflow of tourists, businessmen and investors. The ABS will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art network, transmitting to the entire South-East zone and beyond, while the severely underfunded state owned newspaper-The National Light will be reinvigorated to join the league of outstanding national dailies.
On what he intends to do with the institutional of traditional rulers who are presently being insulted and threatened at will by those in government, Dr Ubah said, “our government will respect, honor and consult with traditional rulers of all the 177 communities in the state regularly. We will ensure that due entitlements of the traditional rulers under the chieftain law of the state are dutifully given to them. They would constantly be carried along by the state administration, so as to make valuable input in the running and formulation of government policies.
He waved off the prevailing air of threats to the monarchs for attending social functions like weddings, burials and visits to homes of those whose shadows instill fears in the hearts of some government officials, as a non issue. That he never believed that any reasonable person could issue out such threats, especially where as Africans with extended family links there is hardly any community one has no genealogical links or relationships, outside positions one presently occupies today.
Ubah who is the flag-bearer of the Labour Party(LP) in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state assured that “under my administration, as a matter of urgency conduct democratic elections to ensure that only credible persons chosen by the people as enshrine under Sec 7 of the 1999 Constitution(as amended), to run the councils.
“We will put in place a fully functional local government system to ensure that the dividends of democracy flow down to and thrive at the grassroots”, he stressed.
Others who spoke yesterday in Awka included Assistant National organizing Secretary of APC, Sen Osita Izunaso, the National Vice Chairman South East (APC), Dr. Nyerere Anyim and National Women Leader Barr. Sharon Ikeazor among others.
