The Plateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Lagong, has cautioned journalists against the use of their pen as tools for destruction.
Lalong said they should rather use it to build and nurture Plateau State and democracy in Nigeria to greatness.
The governor acknowledged that the journalism profession is a unique one that any government or organization that wants to deliver on its mandate must work closely with.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lalong on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen, who spoke on behalf of Lalong, told newsmen in his office on Thursday that the government was deeply disturbed with the petty squabbles within the state Independent Publishers that has turned some of them into rebels writing negative stories against the government.
Longyen said it was so bad that the body had become divided and identified as All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party journalists.
Longyen said: “Having noticed the trend, I summoned the factional groups and appealed of the Indigenous Publishers and urged them to work together for the unity and development of Plateau State.
“Governor Lalong’s administration’s desire is to accord due respect to journalists and create an enabling environment to enable them thrive in their callings.
“We are deeply concerned over the huge debt the previous administration of Governor Jonah Jang left as adverts money owed to media houses.
“That to us is not a healthy development.
“We are committed to see that the media is not distracted by some of these challenges but should remain focused on developmental journalism, especially in reporting what the government is doing in area of peace, reconciliation and development, rather than dwelling on falsehood reportage targeted at destroying the government.
“Government cannot discriminate against any journalist.
“We are making efforts to unite the Independent Publishers and I Intend to reach out to media stations in the state and read out the policy thrust to all the journalists with a view to ensuring that we work as partners in progress to move the Plateau project forward.”
Longyen said government was doing it best to arrest the incessant killings in the Northern parts of Plateau State.
According to him, the peace building committee set up to mediate between the aggrieved parties is recording good and positive response, expressing the hope that normalcy will certainly take the order of the day.
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