By Steve Otaloro
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, played host to members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm at a media stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Akure. Conceived as both an interface and a state dinner, the gathering transcended the routine optics of government–media engagements and instead unfolded as a deliberate, well-orchestrated affirmation of the centrality of the press in democratic governance.
Meticulously planned with the formality and attention usually reserved for hosting presidents and high-ranking dignitaries, the event featured refined hospitality and carefully crafted speeches designed not merely to court headlines, but to acknowledge journalists as the very nucleus of the occasion. This time, media practitioners were not passive observers invited to cover an event; they were the honoured guests–celebrated for their objectivity, balance, and professional restraint in reporting state affairs over the outgoing year.
Much of what transpired at the meeting is already in the public domain. The Governor’s commitment to settling longstanding debts owed to some electronic media organisation–many of which predated his administration–was widely welcomed as an act of institutional responsibility rather than political convenience. The donation of a brand-new bus to ease logistics challenges faced by state correspondents addressed a long-standing operational gap. Requests by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), including the appointment of one of their own as Commissioner for Information and the promotion of deserving media professionals in the civil service to the rank of Permanent Secretary, were all favourably considered. By the close of the evening, it was evident that no legitimate request had been ignored; the atmosphere was one of shared satisfaction and renewed confidence.
Importantly, these gestures were not packaged as a Greek gift, nor framed as a quid pro quo for favourable coverage. The Governor was unequivocal in his charge to journalists: report objectively, interrogate government actions, and hold public officials to account. This ethos–later reinforced by the Commissioner for Information–underscored the administration’s disdain for propaganda and its insistence that all government communication must be anchored in verifiable facts and realities on the ground.
Across the spectrum of speeches delivered–by the NUJ Chairman, the Chairman of the State Correspondents’ Chapel, Chief Executives of electronic media organisations, and government officials–one recurring theme stood out: the resounding endorsement of the work ethic, responsiveness, and professionalism of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan. He was repeatedly applauded for his swift clarification of government issues, his bridge-building role between government and citizens, and his visible readiness to engage the public through radio and television interviews whenever the need arises.
Ordinarily, one might be reluctant to lavish praise on an official still actively discharging his duties. Yet, history provides ample contrasts. In previous administrations, occupants of the same office were often noticed only when issuing terse government appointment of political officials announcements before receding into obscurity–rarely defending government policies in public discourse, shunning broadcast engagements, and confining their relevance to press statements drafted in quiet offices. Against that backdrop, Ebenezer Adeniyan stands out distinctly.
He has fundamentally redefined the perception of the Chief Press Secretary’s office–from a position once suspected to be driven more by proximity than proficiency into one now synonymous with competence, credibility, and courage. The narratives he has built are anchored on truthfulness, institutional loyalty, resilience under pressure, and an unflinching commitment to defending his principles with facts rather than fiction.
Ebenezer Adeniyan is, above all, a consummate professional journalist. His journey–from reporter to editor, to publisher of his own news magazine–speaks to a career forged through diligence, intellectual rigour, and industry respect long before his appointment by Governor Aiyedatiwa. Beyond his official role, he is widely regarded as a man of trust and uncommon generosity, dedicating substantial portions of his personal resources to empowering followers across online platforms and contributing meaningfully to community development in Akure and across his political constituency.
If you want a task done and done well–give it to Ebenezer Adeniyan and go to sleep. Trust is his trademark; efficiency is his playground.
Ondo State is fortunate. Akure is blessed. The Aiyedatiwa administration is stronger for having an erudite, versatile media professional of his calibre–one who seamlessly combines publishing acumen, creative writing, eloquence, broadcast competence, and public relations expertise. He showcases the work of his principal not through propaganda, but through verifiable achievements and grounded narratives.
As he continues on this path, Ebenezer Adeniyan’s legacy will speak louder than any encomium. He has elevated the office of Chief Press Secretary from a once-glorified, often invisible position into a dynamic nerve centre of public communication. In view of the contrast between how the role was previously perceived and how it is now executed in the public interest, fairness demands that we give him his flowers– now.
