Publicise The Deplorable State Of Federal Roads In Ekiti - Afe Babalola Urges Journalists.

 Afe Babalola

By

Gani Salau 

  The founder and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Are Afe Babalola SAN has challenged the journalists in Ekiti state council to give adequate coverage on the deplorable and pity condition of federal roads in Ekiti to the attention of the federal government. 

The legal luminary stated this while paying host to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ekiti state council yesterday in his office at Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Ado Ekiti led by the council chairman, comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela. 

   In his opening remarks, Ojomoyela intimated Afe Babalola on the award of excellence that ought to have been presented to him during the 2019 press week previously if not because of his busy schedule. Ojomoyela opined 'You are the only largest employer of labour in Ekiti apart from the state government. You are more in everywhere. You have done much to the nation and that is why we decide to honour you sir base on your contribution to the NUJ, Ekiti state council ". 

The NUJ chairman, Ojomoyela used the occasion to remind Babalola that NUJ,Ekiti state council is the only council in the south west without a befitting press center which he asked him for assistance towards a press center which it will be named after him. Ojomoyela together with the chairman of 2019 press week, Charles Abere on behalf of the state council presented the award of excellence to him. 

  In his response, the legal icon, Babalola said he would not grant the press center request for now. He lamented on the poor situation of the four federal roads that link to Ado Ekiti, the state capital to include, Aramoko Igede Ado Ekiti federal road, Ifaki Ado Ekiti federal road, Akure Ado Ekiti federal road and Ikare Ijan Ado Ekiti federal road. 

Babalola lamented that he has been maintaining Ado Ekiti ABUAD /Federal polytechnic road since nine years ago. The legal luminary bemoaned "FEMA promised to repair the road but they didn't and the press in Ekiti have not been reporting this deplorable situation. If a country will grow, get out of poverty, it will be through journalists " .

   On the topical issue as regard hate speech currently at the National Assembly, the legal expert retorted "There are enough laws that have taken care of that on anybody that publishes fake news, lies and so on. I don't see reasons for hate speech laws and the security agents should be up and doing in their job ".

   The NUJ chairman  Ojomoyela on behalf of the journalists promised to give more prominence in their reportage on the sorry situation of the Federal roads in Ekiti and other things that need to be of public interest. Various correspondents in Ekiti state council, the state executive of the council and members of the 2019 press week committee attended the award presentation ceremony.