Emir of Fika to Journalists: Tell government truth

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The Emir of Fika, and chairman of Yobe State Council of Chiefs and the National Convener of the Council of the Traditional Leaders of Africa, Alhaji Dr Muhammadu Ibn Abali Muhammad Idrissa, has charged journalists to always tell government the truth, and hold governments to account for their actions and inactions.
Mai Fika disclosed this on Saturday while the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace at Potiskum.
He charged the journalists to double their efforts and also said the truth to be equitable, be fair, so that is not always to be praising the government. He added that, the journalists have a very good, very fair and make remarkable achievements in the State.
His royal father also implores the journalists to be fair and just in all their reporting so that when the government is wrongly saying it, when they are rightly saying it, “I think you have been doing that. Always tell government the truth and don’t over praise them.”
The Emir also called on the journalists to adequate report the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. He said, “ You have the responsibility to always report the suffering of the people.”
Furthermore, he commended the journalists for their resilience in covering the state, especially in the heat of Boko Haram insurgency.
Mai Fika also pledged to provide maximum support to the journalists to deliver on their mandate.
Speaking earlier, the Chapel’s chairman, Alhaji Ahmed I. Abba, ensured His Royal Highness that the Journalists are here in the state to serve, and they will sacrifice all what they have for the state and for the palace.
“This palace has been home for us; we really appreciate your royal highness and the members of the palace; this is a unique reception we have never had anywhere; we will forever live to remember the reception we always have in this palace.”