Former Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and a correspondent attached to governor’s office… Photo credit: Daniel William
I don’t really know what’s happening to our state houses.
May be, the poser ought to have been what’s happening in our state houses.
I mean, for most journalists, once they serve in the various state houses, their lives just refuse to remain the same.
The state house appears to be the litmus test for all journalists. Someone once said if you want to know the real person, test them with power or money.
I’m by no means exculpating other professionals, or non professionals, as it might be. However, I’m zeroing in on journalists because of the important role they hold being the fourth estate of the realm.
Their position is significant because they are not paid from government coffers. As fate would have it, most of them are not being paid regularly, if they are paid at all, by their organizations.
So, once they get political appointments, they may forget the ideals which they used to hold dear. Incidentally, it was for these ideals that the generality of the people held them as astounding in their field. It was also because the powers that be knew their influence on the people because of their ideals that they were appointed.
But once they get into the state house, and they get acquainted with the situation on ground, they are usually in a quagmire.
That’s because they are faced with a choice of either returning ‘unsung’ to their ideals by resigning or to be ‘his master’s voice’.
Unfortunately, most of them choose to hold the fort in defending the indefensible. They’re more or less wowed by the perks of office.
So, they forget their ideals.
Of course; they are by their actions kissing the newsroom good bye!!!
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