Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has called on Journalists in the state to be considerate whenever he is deviating from his core mandate of his administration.
Bello made the passionate appeal when members of the Nigeria Union ofJournalists, Kogi state council paid him a condolence visit on Thursday over the death of his mother late Hajia Hauwawu Bello.
According to him “As journalists you are expected to say exactly what is happening, say exactly what you see and whip us on the line when you see that we are deviating from line because that is exactly what my mother used to do and you can equally play the role of a mother to me.
“As a government sometimes we don’t see our back. You are the one that should watch our back for us that is why you are referred to as the fourth estate of the realm.
“You have to tell us if we are doing good so that we can do more and if you are doing anything to the contrary, please equally tell us so that we take corrections” he said .
The governor who pointed out that whatever good characters he exhibited outside is purely what his mother taught him , noted that if he does anything contrary, he might have learnt it from the society or from politicians.
“You have to tell us if we are doing good so that we can do more and if we are doing anything to the contrary, please equally tell us so that we take corrections in the interest of the state” he noted.
While eulogising his late mother , governor Bello said she brought them up in a very virtuous way and taught them how to be contented with the little or the much they have, she taught us how to be patient.
“She taught us how to be prayerful, she taught us how to respect elders, because she gave birth to me in a miraculous way as the gap between myself and my next sister is over 10 years and nobody would ever imagine that she would have me any longer.
Earlier in his speech the state NUJ Chairman , Comrade Momoh Jimoh lamented that the Hajia Hawawu Bello a virtuous mother died at the time the governor and the entire state needed her wise counsels. He prayed to God to grant her eternal rest and bless her with the highest aljanah fidaus.
