The Chief Press Secretary to Niger State Governor, Mary Noel Berje has described media report that Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello was airlifted by helicopter from the busy Kaduna-Abuja Highway, due to traffic gridlock, as misleading, malicious, and false.
In a statement, Noel-Berje said, Arise TV acted in error by not only relying on hearsay but failed woefully in adhering to the core value of objective journalism by not reaching out to crosscheck the story before airing/rushing to the press.
“His Excellency, Niger state governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello was never airlifted contrary to reports that emanated from Arise TV and trended by other media, he rather waited patiently in the traffic.”
She demanded immediate retraction and apology for embarrassing the Governor, whom she described as one of the most media-friendly governors.
“Arise TV is among the leading media houses in the broadcast industry and as such should not be associated with this kind of brazen misconduct. I demand immediate retraction and apology from Arise TV to my boss, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for the malicious report”, She said.
By this singular act of professional misconduct, Arise TV opened the flood gate to other media houses to follow in the error.
“No society strives without robust media engagements. However, journalists must observe due diligence in the discharge of their duties to avoid doing damage to hard-earned reputation”, she noted.
She maintained that the Governor’s door is wide open for journalists to crosscheck their facts before airing/going to the press.
