Don’t Turn Media Aides To Attack Dogs — Basiru

Senate‘s Spokesperson, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, has admonished political office holders not to turn their media aides into “attack dogs”.

Gatekeepers News reports that Senate’s Spokesperson and Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, has admonished political office holders not to turn their media aides into “attack dogs” in view of their critical role of mitigating tension in the society.

He noted that media aides are, by the very nature of their job schedule, the repository of the “secrets” of their principals and that their job schedule cuts across policy making and projection of their principals’ images.

Basiru made the call while declaring open a two-day capacity building workshop for media aides to Principal Officers and Information Personnel of the National Assembly, in Abuja, FCT.

He warned the political class not to reduce their media aides to tools to further their political interests.

He noted that “as politicians, we do not really acquaint ourselves with the important nature of the job description of media aides. Hence, we fail to maximise the benefits derivable from them.

“It is high time we realise that media aides have so much to offer if we allow them to function strictly within the context of their engagement and that the political class should not turn media aides to attack dogs that are let loose on others which may not be in sync with their point of view or even of different political inclinations.

“Undoubtedly, media aides are stabilising factors in the polity, they have the onerous task of mitigating tension in the society through their releases on behalf of their principals.

“The political class must accept the fact that media aides have so much contribute in the area of mitigation of societal tensions in all ramifications if allowed and given the necessary support.

“On this note, I must appreciate our media aides for being the catalyst for the relative peace, integration and cooperation being currently witnessed by the Ninth Assembly and the Executive.”

Ajibola commended the convener of the workshop saying it is very apposite currently when the nation is facing challenges largely due to misinformation.

Ajibola also implored the participants to key in on the benefits of thr workshop as it would increase their knowledge, enhance quality of job and broaden their exposure to new areas and best practices in journalism.