Oyo APC Guber Aspirant, Agbaje Calls For Constructive Journalism To Combat Societal Problems
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — A governorship aspirant in Oyo state, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, has urged the media, civil society organisations, and responsible leadership in redirecting the country towards productivity, accountability, and long-term development.
Agbaje, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, urged
journalists across the country to embrace constructive and value-driven journalism to address the growing moral, social, and economic challenges confronting the nation.
Speaking while hosting the leadership of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel in his office located in Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, the legal icon declined societal values, insecurity, economic hardship, and the role of journalists in shaping public orientation and national development.
“Despite the challenges facing journalism practice in Nigeria, it still remains one of the strongest institutions capable of influencing public behaviour and restoring ethical standards in society.
“Its independence has been weakened over the years due to ownership structures and political interests, but there are still credible and neutral platforms capable of driving positive changes.
“For the media, I feel independence has been whittled down significantly, maybe because of ownership structures or political patronage.
“But I still believe there is a segment that is neutral, and that segment can work towards shaping society positively.”Agbaje said.
He decried the collapse of moral values in the society, saying that dishonesty, sabotage, vandalism, and criminality have continued to frustrate businesses and discourage investments.
“Our moral values are almost zero now. If somebody opens a business, instead of supporting it, people look for ways to sabotage it, hence many people cannot do business successfully in this country, particularly in our state.”
Agbaje narrated instances where investments and properties linked to business and industrial activities were vandalised, stressing that such acts have become a major threat to economic growth and investor confidence.
He disclosed that some facilities and fences around industrial projects had been completely stolen by hoodlums, describing the situation as alarming and damaging to development efforts.
“We had situations where fences were removed completely. Not small portions, the entire fence was stolen. So, there is a part of our society that we need to address seriously, and its only the media that can help drive that conversation consistently.”
The governorship aspirant maintained that journalists must go beyond political reporting and government criticism by deliberately promoting stories that encourage integrity, discipline, hard work, accountability, and responsible citizenship.
“It is the media that can work towards redefining our values. We need to consciously address this moral decline because it affects everybody,”he added.
Agbaje also urged professional bodies and organisations, including the media, to begin building sustainable structures and institutions that would endure beyond current leadership tenures.
Speaking on the nation’s economy, Agbaje acknowledged recent improvements in crude oil production and ongoing reforms in the oil sector, but argued that Nigeria still faces serious structural and governance problems that require urgent attention.
According to him, insecurity, corruption, weak infrastructure, and societal decay continue to hinder industrialisation and economic development across the country.
Reflecting on the decline of industrial clusters in the country, Agbaje said many investors are becoming reluctant to expand their businesses due to insecurity and vandalism.
“We used to have industrial areas that created jobs and opportunities, but today many investors are afraid because of the environment where theft and vandalism have become normal?”
He warned that without deliberate efforts to rebuild societal values and strengthen institutions, government policies alone may not be enough to drive sustainable development.
“Government has responsibilities, yes, but society itself must also change. If values continue to decay, even the best policies may fail,”he stated.