Makinde Urges Media to Hold Public Office Holders Accountable

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called on media professionals to maintain transparency and uphold their responsibility as the society’s watchdog, urging them to hold public office holders accountable for the public good. Speaking at the opening of a three-day retreat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Press Corps in Ibadan, themed “Role of the Media in Fostering Development in a Multi-party Democracy,” the governor emphasized the media’s role in promoting accountability and transparency in governance.

Represented by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde underscored that the media serves as the backbone of society by ensuring that those in government are held to account. He noted that pursuing the public interest is key to societal development and stressed the importance of the media’s independence from political influence and its own internal integrity.

“The media plays a crucial role in development by holding public office holders accountable, acting as a watchdog for society,” Makinde stated. “Without accountability, office holders may not prioritize public interest. Both elected and appointed officials must serve the public, and the media’s oversight helps ensure that they do.”

Makinde also highlighted the importance of the media holding itself accountable, as the media operates in the public interest and must not betray the trust it holds. According to him, transparency and accountability among public office holders will foster development, which is the primary goal of both the media and the public.

The governor added that his administration values transparency and has built strong institutions and feedback mechanisms to engage citizens in governance.

During the retreat, Dr. Olanrewaju reflected on the governor’s leadership, noting that Governor Makinde’s transparent approach has driven significant progress in security, education, health, and the economy. Olanrewaju cited the governor’s effective handling of past security challenges and the introduction of sustainable economic recovery programs rather than short-term palliatives in response to recent economic hardships.

At the retreat, PDP Press Corps Chairman, Samuel Ogidan, praised Governor Makinde’s visionary leadership and media-friendly stance, highlighting his commitment to infrastructure development and transformational governance. Ogidan urged participants to use the retreat to enhance their skills in investigative reporting and to remain committed to accuracy, integrity, and objectivity in political journalism.

The retreat also featured a goodwill message from Mr. Richard Ihediwa, Assistant Director of Publicity at the PDP Headquarters, who lauded Governor Makinde for supporting the initiative.