Objective journalism is simply reporting issues without disparity or bias. The moments a media outfit denigrates and malign a personality with libelous article with hypocritical, two-faced duplicitous contents, such a media outfit has thrown integrity to the air and has no Journalistic values left. Objectivity calls for journalists to develop a consistent method of testing information, a transparent approach to evidence.  Premium Times article titled “How Kogi Governor, Bello, squandered over N260 million ‘security vote’ days after assuming office” is merely a bogus expression of falsehood and ignorance!

While hurriedly scribbling down the article, with the intent to do the damage on Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s government and personality, common sense gave way to folly and idiocy, making the write-up inconsistent and susceptible to thorough scrutiny.

PREMIUM TIMES claims it cannot say exactly how much has so far been spent as security funds, but documents obtained so far indicate that between January 27 and May 12, Kogi State taxpayers could have coughed out billions to their profligate governor. If Premium Times cannot say the exact amount that has been spent so far on security allowance, why publish half backed story? What are its intentions for publishing a story that would appear incomplete, which it cannot back with 100% evidential facts? What sort of Journalism is that?

Premium Times in its haste to do the biding of the sponsor, failed to tell readers of the despicable article, the exact amount budgeted for security vote in Kogi State and if the state government overshot the budget. Security is a very expensive venture. Except one sit on that sit, one will merely be speculating on the cost involved in securing lives and property under ones watch. As the Chief Security officer of his state, His Excellency would not toy with the security of his indigenes.  His Excellency would also never approve a penny above the voted security allowance as indirectly peddled by Premium Times.

Did Premium Times take out time to do a clear analysis of the security situation of the state before the inauguration of His Excellency and many months after?

Below is the concise chart of kidnapping cases as reported in Kogi State between the months of January through to May, 2016.

 The above table makes obvious, that His Excellency has been on his toes as regards kidnapping. The chart shows that occurrences of kidnapping dropped consistently and continuously from January till date. Still on security, it is heartwarming to know that, Kogi state is one of the safest states in the Federation, with isolated cases of Boko Haram and Herdsmen attacks. The state security operatives with support from His Excellency, has been able to curtail the excesses of the rampaging herdsmen and Islamic extremist. Incidences in the state cannot be compared to what was obtainable in places like Agatu in Benue state. In Kogi state, the causality rates of the rampaging herdsmen and Boko Haram extremist have either been one or zero death.

The big question is what is Premium Times up to? Trying to garner false opinion against the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello from the public? It would hit the walls. The works of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will rubbish such deviousness. The Kogi State government would also not be hoodwinked into submitting to any form of media blackmail.

The opposition and conniving media outfits can do well as good citizens by reporting issues bothering on security to appropriate authority for actions rather than rabble rousing.

Premium Times is therefore encouraged to play objective journalism and star clear of “media-ganstarism” with purported looters of Kogi’s commonwealth, because either they like it or not, the will refund all loots.

Williams Charles Oluwatoyin
Writes From, Lokoja