Stop giving Governors Awards and always call them out so they can sit up – Nyesom Wike tells journalists

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has urged journalists to hold government officials accountable, rather than give them awards on the basis of “friendship”.

He stated this on Friday when the national leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the government house in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant to the governor on media said there was a need for journalists to put in more efforts as the “strong voice and conscience of the society.

“What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us an award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us — the people in authority — and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be,” he said.