Garba’s recipe for Ganduje’s harmonious media relations

By Aliyu Dangida

Unlike its predecessors, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Khadimul Islam of Kano state is media-friendly and has provided the enabling environment for working journalists to practice without fear for any form of harassment.

In fact, Kano is a “safe haven” for journalists. And there is no gain saying that the state ministry of information, under the able leadership of Malam Mu­hammad Garba, has further cemented this harmonious working relationship with media organizations, both elec­tronic and print media.

However, despite what the admin­istration has been doing, the opposi­tion, at every opportunity, makes crit­icism their trademark even without facts or the slightest iota of truth. Ap­parently, they enjoy the administra­tion’s tolerance for criticism and the enabling environment it guarantees for the freest expression of opinion in the media. Governor Ganduje has proven himself to be not only a leader with listening ears, but also a man of action.

As a media man, the commissioner entertains his professional colleagues when discharging their duties. His door remains open for any working journalist to walk in and be listen to. Not only that, he maintains that the Ganduje administration welcomes constrictive criticism and that jour­nalists should always be guided by the ethics of the profession.

Garba is truly a professional. His media engagement within and outside the state has been laudable. He under­stands the importance of partnering with the media which he has been do­ing to ensure the success of this dem­ocratic dispensation and for the team­ing populace to enjoy the dividends of democracy. His ministry has been putting down advertorials showcas­ing the achievements recorded by the Ganduje administration in the state.

His open door policy is uncom­mon. This is what really endeared him to many journalists in the country.

This remarkable feats, as he indi­cated, are attributable to the support he enjoys from the state Chief Ex­ecutive. At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Guild of Edi­tors hosted by the Kano state govern­ment, Governor Ganduje showered encomiums on the commissioner for his loyalty and support Garba for the administration.

As a two term National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); President, West African Jour­nalists Association, WAJA; President, Federation of African Journalists, FAJ; member, Steering Committee of the International Federation of Jour­nalists, Garba has established a work­ing relationship between the Ganduje administration and media related pro­fessional organisations such as the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the NUJ, Nigerian Broadcasting Corpora­tion (NBC), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Radio Television and Theatre Art Workers Union (RATTAWU).

Garba has also been instrumen­tal in revitalization of the state own newspaper The Triumph closed down by the previous administration in the state. Triumph Publishing Company, publishes Daily Triumph, Alfijir (an Ajami paper) and its Hausa version Albishir. Both state television, Abu­bakarRimi Television and Radio Kano have also been revamped.

Kano state Governor Ganduje dis­cussing important issues with com­missioner of information, MuhdGar­ba.

It is a well-known fact that, dur­ing his first tenure in office, Ganduje completed many inherited projects as he initiated new ones in both urban and rural areas of the state. Networks of road projects are visible all over the state. This is in addition to the provi­sion of street lights in urban, semi-ur­ban and local government headquar­ters to boost security, reduce accident and lighten communities to reduce the risk of criminal activities. Is there any wonder therefore that Kano enjoys the status of the most peaceful state in Ni­geria?

It is also a credit to the Ganduje Administration for creating five new Emirates designed to bring develop­ment closer to the people as well the creation of big towns that will com­plement the state capital in terms of rendering service to the people. The exercise is also aimed at reducing ru­ral–urban drift particularly among the teeming youth who come to the state or even go to other cities in the federa­tion in search of greener pasture.

Right now, the headquarters of the Emirates are now receiving a face-lift befitting any modern town. Road networks, specialist hospitals mega schools among other facilities are be­ing provided, while potential investors are already showing interest to key into the development of such areas.

The ministry of information has not relent in its responsibility to keep the people informed about what the government has been doing in terms of projects that have direct bearing on them and designed to improve the quality of their life. That is why we believe that the commissioner’s recipe for Governor Ganduje’s media engagements will always be a guiding principle for stakeholders in the state, owing to which all will deem it fit to partner with media in dealing squarely with major problems that are bedevil­ing the nation.

Dangida is publisher Mahangar Arewa