• About
  • Advertise
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Friday, July 11, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
MetrowatchXtra
  • WORLD
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OP-ED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • WORLD
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OP-ED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
No Result
View All Result
MetrowatchXtra
No Result
View All Result
Home OP-ED

Enemies of Progress: The Fake News

• By Olamilekan Sotayo | 16. 11. 2021

MetrowatchXtra by MetrowatchXtra
November 16, 2021
0 0
0
•Ogun governor Adedapo Abiodun

•Ogun governor Adedapo Abiodun

“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re misinformed” – Mark Twain.

 

 

When an old aphorism says, “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”, it must have had Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, the Governor of Ogun State at the centre of its thought. For  Ogun State, the saying rings true as it has recently been a tree blossoming with abundant fruit for which it cannot escape the stones and sticks thrown at it by hungry political children. The enemies of progress are on the prowl with malevolent gusto. If they are not cyber-attacking the Governor to disrupt its operations and whip up sentiments against it, they are unleashing destructive physical attacks on or causing violence within the state in order to daub the administration. When they fail, they resort to engaging hungry writers and greedy journalists to weave lies against the State and the Governor in the media.

In his The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown actually refers to the media as “the right arm of anarchy,” and this was affirmed by the maliciously false report— “Ogun attorney-general Gbolahan Adeniran resigns over ‘massive corruption’ in Governor Abiodun’s government”— that was published on Monday 15 November,2021 in one online news medium, “Peoples gazette”, that is infamous for the publication of fake news and the incitement of fears. Therein, journalism was taken to the abattoir and it was murdered on the slaughter slab of imbalanced reporting, inaccuracy, unverified reporting and hearsay— a lazy and unethical style of journalism.

A part of the false report reads:  “Akingbolahan Adeniran has resigned as Ogun State attorney-general effective later this month, Peoples Gazette was told, after he spent weeks seething about Governor Dapo Abiodun’s corrupt practices, incompetence and general maladministration.” They continued: “Two sources who spoke with The Gazette separately about the development said Mr Adeniran has expressed concerns about unbridled corruption and incompetence in government and unsuccessfully took initiatives to curb such vices in public services.” It is not strange that whenever the media are set to publish fake news, in Nigeria, they resort to quoting anonymous sources. And that marks one of the hydra-headed problems that has been plaguing credible journalism in Nigeria.

READ ALSO  CBN, Osinbajo and Devaluation of the Naira

In his response titled, “MY REASONS FOR RESIGNING AS ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, OGUN STATE”, the outgoing CJ, Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, dismissed the fake news and said: “My attention has been drawn to some online news publications purporting to provide reasons for my resignation from the Ogun State Government as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. While it is true that on 8 November 2021, I formally notified His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, the Governor of the State, of my decision to resign from the cabinet, I must state that contrary to the online news publications, my reasons for resigning are purely personal. I am not aware of any “massive corruption” in the Administration and I am indeed very proud of what we have been able to achieve in the administration of justice over the past two years”. Afterwards, he rolled out the massive list of the feats they have recorded.

The false report by the online medium provides additional evidence of the piquancy of Mark Twain regarding newspapers. An American author, journalist and intellectual, Twain had submitted that one is at the risk of being misinformed if one reads newspapers and being uninformed if one does not read them. As neither of the two is desirable, it means that a middle course should be charted by readers. Little wonder lawyers would say, “caveat emptor” or buyers beware. Therefore, you don’t trust or believe all you read in the press.

READ ALSO  Udom Emmanuel: Propelling a New Narrative for National Unity

I have observed Prince Dapo Abiodun since his assumption of office as the Governor of Ogun State in 2019, and I can confidently say he has left no one in doubt, including the doubting Thomases, about his prodigious administrative acumen, robust intellect, keen vision, transparent honesty and the sheer capacity to organise men and materials for outstanding results.

In the Nigerian space where public service is largely synonymous with self-service, Prince Abiodun has remained constant as one of the exceptional few who are passionate about their jobs, patriotic to the Nigerian nation and conscious of the fact that leadership is a call to service that must be religiously and conscientiously done.

To the utter consternation of the dramatic news medium and its sponsors, the energy and resources invested in the project amounted to a sheer waste of time. At best, it was akin to shaking the giant baobab tree to gain dewdrops. The State remains strong and unscathed by the undiluted lies and half-truths that are strewn throughout the ineffectual political gymnastics.

Finally, as everyone gives only what they have, if Prince Dapo Abiodun always gives quality service, his detractors should always give spineless opposition and lamentation. Afterall, reproach doesn’t diminish the sweetness of honey as honey is naturally sweetened.

 

•Olamilekan Sotayow rites in from  Abeokuta.

Tags: Dapo AbiodunFake NewsOgun governorOgun State
MetrowatchXtra

MetrowatchXtra

RELATED POST

Portable Declared Wanted by Police for Allegedly Ass@ulting Ogun Govt Officials
Latest News

Portable Declared Wanted by Police for Allegedly Ass@ulting Ogun Govt Officials

by Kemi Sheriepha
February 18, 2025
0

Controversial street artist, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, popularly known as “Portable”, has been declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command...

Read moreDetails
1 Dead, 5 Hospitalized in 3rd Mainland Bridge Auto Crash

Police Confirm 3 University Students Dead in Lone Accident in Ogun

December 21, 2024
Dapo Abiodun

Dapo Abiodun Emerges Chairman of Southern Governors Forum | METROWATCH

June 24, 2024
BREAKING | 12 Southern Governors meet in Ogun State | METROWATCH

BREAKING | 12 Southern Governors meet in Ogun State | METROWATCH

June 24, 2024
Fayose’s ex-Aide Slams Ogun Gov for Allowing Monarch to Squat before Him | METROWATCH

Fayose’s ex-Aide Slams Ogun Gov for Allowing Monarch to Squat before Him | METROWATCH

May 29, 2024
OAFZA Manager’s Suspension Saga:  12 Years after, Funmi Omosule Gets Justice | METROWATCH

Court Upholds Sack of University Don for Illegally Drawing Emoluments from 2 Establishments | METROWATCH

May 14, 2024
Load More

APO

Recent Posts

  • Nigeria Government Says ‘President Tinubu Never Stopped 5-year Non-immigrant Visa for U.S. Citizens’
  • Nnamdi Kanu’s Release Will Crash Insecurity in South East, Rep Member Says
  • DPP Persecuting Me Because of My Property, Developer Tells Judge in Court
  • 500 Lawyers Storm U.S. Swiss Embassies for Intervention over Alleged Corruption at NMDPRA
  • Akpabio Removes Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senate Committee Chairman

Recommended

BREAKING | INEC Suspends Adamawa REC for Illegally Declaring APC’s Aisha Binani Gov-elect  | METROWATCH

BREAKING | INEC Suspends Adamawa REC for Illegally Declaring APC’s Aisha Binani Gov-elect | METROWATCH

2 years ago
NCAA Renews Azman Air’s Licence, Airline Resumes Operations

NCAA Renews Azman Air’s Licence, Airline Resumes Operations

3 years ago
MetrowatchXtra

MetrowatchXtra is an online daily newspaper poised to act as a catalyst in our debate and desire for well-governed Nigeria and provide the much-needed platform for all, irrespective of social, religious or political divide, to express their views.
Metrowatchxtra Nigeria

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2024 Metrowatchxtra Nigeria Published by Miraculous Media Connect Limited. All rights reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Health

© 2024 Metrowatchxtra Nigeria Published by Miraculous Media Connect Limited. All rights reserved