Bauchi Speaker Tasks Northern Journalists on Good Image for the Region
The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has challenged media practitioners in the North to provide new platforms to portray the good image of the region.
Suleiman was speaking when he received in audience the leaders of Arewa Online Publishers’ Association who paid him a courtesy visit today.
He lamented how northern region is underreported and misrepresented; saying that the best way to change the bad narratives, stereotypes and bad portrayal of the North was for journalists in the region to create new media platforms that will compete with their counterparts in other parts of the Country.
Hon. Abubakar Suleiman, who commended the leadership of the Association for coming together to embolden the practice of modern journalism, also urged them to change the bad narratives of Northern Nigeria which he says was already brewing in other parts of the country.
“The North has professional journalists and if all of them come together the way you did, I believe no media organization will dare to portray us in bad light or bury any story that has to do with northerners or the northern region”, he said.
The Speaker pledged to build a very good working relationship with the Association in order to strengthen modern and objective journalism in the region.
Earlier speaking, the Coordinator of Arewa Online Publishers’ Association, Bauchi state chapter, Haruna Mohammed Salisu said that the visit to the Speaker was to intimate him on the activities of the Association, and extend hands of friendship and brotherhood to him and the 9th Assembly of Bauchi State.
Haruna said the Association is a platform for all online media in the 19 States of the North and Abuja who came together for the common interest of the region and the country at large.
The Coordinator explained that decision to form the forum was informed by the consistent underreporting and misrepresentation of the region, adding that there was the need to fast track development in the region through objective media reportage.
He commended Hon Suleiman for being the most media-friendly Speaker Bauchi State ever produced.
“You have a good reputation and your good image is trending in the State and beyond. “You are the first Speaker in the history of Bauchi State to appoint a media aide, and interestingly you appointed a very competent one.
“This is worthy of note and emulation”, Malam Haruna said.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the Association, Malam Nura Bashir Faggo said the North must report itself or else other regions will misreport and misrepresent it.
He added that with the formation of Arewa Online Publishers’ Association, the Northern journalists have taken a path to change all bad narratives about the region.
