A socio-political group, Comrades of Rauf Aregbesola (CORA), has asked the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Osun State, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu to withdraw his libellous comments against the former governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
CORA also urged the NUJ Chairman to make a public apology for spreading information that is capable of damaging the reputation of the former Minister.
In a statement on Friday, on behalf of CORA, obtained by OSUN DEFENDER in Osogbo, Comrade Oluwaseun Abosede said the comments made by Mr. Ajadosu at the ‘Ipade Imole’ programme of the Osun State Government were totally incorrect and factually inaccurate.
Abosede, who noted that as reported widely in the media without any controverting information throughout his eight-year tenure, the statement made by the NUJ Chairman suggests some iota of political bias, which undermines the credibility of the journalism profession.
Ajadosu, while asking questions from Governor Ademola Adeleke stated that: “Mr. Governor, you said you have not been collecting your security vote. There was a Governor in this state in the past, he told us he has not been collecting salary but through our media lens, we found out that on the day his eight-year tenure expired, he collected his salary. Are you going to make good this promise?”
Findings revealed that the Governor the NUJ Chairman was referring to is Aregbesola, who till date, is the only two-term Governor in the state.
Adeleke, also in his response, noted that: “I am Ademola Adeleke Omo Balogun of Ede. I am different from Aregbesola. I am not taking security vote or salary. I am using it to develop Osun State.”
CORA urged pen pushers to always desist from spreading inaccurate information and uphold the highest standards of impartiality and objectivity, which the profession is reputed for.
The statement reads in part:
“It has come to our attention that the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Osun State Chapter, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu made certain assertions during the Ipade Imole public enlightenment program regarding former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure in office, specifically concerning his salary during his two-term administration as Governor of Osun State. We wish to clarify that Comrade Ajadosu’s comments are not only factually inaccurate but also demonstrate a lack of proper research and understanding of the matter in question.
“First and foremost, Governor Rauf Aregbesola publicly declared at several occasions that he did not collect a dime in salary throughout his two-term tenure as Governor. This is an incontrovertible fact and has widely been reported in the media. As responsible journalists, it is essential to verify information before making allegations, especially when they concern the integrity of public figures.
“Governor Aregbesola’s commitment to financial transparency and his track record of prudent fiscal management during his time in office have been widely recognized. His decision to forgo his salary was not a matter of controversy but a demonstration of his dedication to the state’s well-being.
“Furthermore, Comrade Ajadosu’s comments, which insinuate a bias based on political affiliations, are concerning. Journalists are expected to uphold the highest standards of impartiality and objectivity in their reporting and public statements. It is important to avoid making unfounded accusations without concrete evidence.
“In the interest of responsible journalism and maintaining the credibility of the NUJ, we urge Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu to retract his statements and issue a public apology for spreading inaccurate information. It is essential that journalists, as the watchdogs of society, adhere to the principles of fairness, accuracy, and balance in their reporting and public statements.
“We call on Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and the NUJ in Osun State to exercise due diligence in their future communications and avoid making baseless accusations that can damage the reputation of public figures and undermine the credibility of the journalism profession,” CORA stressed.
