Gov Mbah Calls for Honesty Between Media and Government

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Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has urged the government and the media to meet at the point of truth. He asked journalists to look beyond headlines and political stories. They should find facts through evidence, investigation, and context.

Mbah said the government must be open about its actions and accountable for its results. The press has a duty to check those actions and report the truth, even if it shows failures or highlights progress.

He made these comments on Thursday when he welcomed over 300 editors to the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu.

The theme of the conference is “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.” The sub-theme is “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Misinformation Before, During and After Elections.”

Mbah pointed out that the relationship between the government and the media should not always be about conflict. Both sides have different jobs but share the same goal of serving the Nigerian people.

“Government must be transparent about what it is doing and be accountable for the results. The press must establish the facts and report the truth.

“Sometimes that truth will expose failure. Sometimes it will reveal progress. The obligation for us both is the same in either case, serving the people of Nigeria,” he said.

The governor encouraged journalists to improve their investigative reporting, especially now that artificial intelligence and other technologies make it harder to tell real news from fake news.

He said AI can create fake photos, clone voices, and edit videos to make people say things they never did. This means professional journalists have an even bigger duty.

“My challenge to you, therefore, is simple, go deeper, beyond the surface,” Mbah told the editors.

He added that serious journalism should not just look for proof to back up a pre-made decision.

“Its value lies precisely in its independence: examine the evidence, test competing claims, establish what happened, and report what you find,” he said.

Mbah stressed that the same rules should apply to government and its critics. Good work by the government should not be overlooked just because it does not fit a certain political story.

“We have tried to build an Enugu government that is open about what it is doing and clear about what it is trying to achieve. Where we fall short, that should call for scrutiny and be reported. But the same principle applies when the evidence reveals progress,” he said.

The governor took the time to share some of his administration’s projects. This includes over 1,500 kilometres of roads built or repaired, more than 7,000 classrooms, Smart Green Schools, and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in the state’s 260 wards.

He mentioned other projects like water systems, new transport terminals, CNG buses, Enugu Air, the revival of old industries, and building a new city.

Mbah said his government wants to make Enugu an economic gateway to the South-East. They aim to make the state one of Nigeria’s top economies and a leader in human development and quality of life.

He also thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for their support in roads, aviation, energy, and regional development.

The governor asked the editors to use their time in Enugu to look closely at the progress made in the state.

“Take some time to explore the city, speak to the people who live and work here, and get a sense of the direction in which Enugu is moving,” he said.

One highlight of the opening ceremony was a plaque for good governance presented to Governor Mbah by the Guild.