The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has urged the media to engage in constructive criticism and be objective in their reportage.
He called on media organizations in the state to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara to succeed, adding that he is a silent achiever.
The LG chairman said this when he hosted some members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in the state who visited him at his office.
He stated, “You see what’s happening in Rivers State, so we also need your cooperation. Some of your colleagues have been writing what is not true. We listen to them and we also look at their writing. I don’t know what they want to achieve by bringing up those kinds of stories, especially on social media.”
Speaking further, Ihunwo argued that Rivers State is too big for one man to control, he vowed to defend the governor and the state at all times.
“As a local government, as a state, you people are residing here, you all know what we are passing through that one man wants to own our state.
“Let me also say that Rivers State is too big for one man to own and that is why we are here to defend our people. Our local government has been liberated. Whatever they are doing is their business, we are not interested, what we are interested in is the people,” he said.
Describing the governor as a quiet and humble person, Ihunwo said, “We won’t allow them to intimidate us. During the crisis, you saw what happened after the swearing-in that people tried coming here to disturb the council and we said no.
“The governor is a silent achiever and means well for Rivers State and you can all attest that the governor has done a lot of projects and commissioned a project without being on national television. The governor is developing Rivers State gradually, we are moving forward. l will stand with Simi alaye Fubara for eight years. Nobody can intimidate me and I won’t lose focus.”