By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, has called on the media to help rescue Nigeria from the worrisome deteriorating value system leading the society down the precipice.
He spoke as the special guest of honor at the unveiling of The Podium Magazine in Akure on Thursday, where he expressed alarm at the nauseating rot eating away the Nigerian society especially the youths, as symptomised by the get-rich-quick syndrome, yahoo-yahoo practices, ritual killing, worship of falsehood, and worrisome disdain for truth, among others.
At the event, Akinterinwa was also conferred with The Podium Magazine’s Influential Leader Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of Ondo State.
The Chairman of Ondo State Council of Obas and the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi represented by the Asae, High Chief Sola Adegbonmire was the Royal Host; the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye was the Special Royal Guest; while the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Olufaderin Adetimehin was the Royal Father of the Day.
A lecture titled “The Role of Strategic Marketing in Business Development” was delivered by the Guest Speaker, the MD/CEO of Staco Insurance, Dr. Wale Banmore, who was represented by Barrister Wale Obanigba.
A former Permanent Secretary in the state, Dr. Afolabi Adewakun chaired the occasion.
Passionately, Akinterinwa appealed to the media to reawaken to the changing dynamics of Nigerian society and support the effort to save the eroding value system from total collapse. He regretted that due to the worrisome failure of the value system in society, today truth has become abnormal while falsehood is being celebrated as the norm.
His words: “The Nigerian media must reawaken itself to the changing dynamics of Nigerian society and support the efforts to save our value system from total collapse. Things are bad as they are today, but we all need to stem the tide. The media should join the government and other well-meaning citizens in changing the mindset and thinking of the youth. Success is sweet only when it is derived from hard work and integrity. We cannot continue to celebrate mediocrity and support debased values that have brought society to its sorry state”.
He added: “Today, nobody likes to hear the truth anymore; and when you say the truth, people doubt it; but when you lie, people take it hook, line, and sinker. We are also seeing this played out even on social media. We need to look at this seriously. It has become an issue of concern”.
“I don’t know where people get the idea that you can just make money very easily and quickly without paying your dues. And in the course of that, they are even willing to destroy their own lives because they say they get the money and know the number of years they would spend”.
“We need to let people know that when you grow up you would go up, but when you jump up, you would come down. People must begin to know that you have to earn wealth. It is not something that comes to you suddenly. If you pursue that approach, the end is never known to be good”.
Unfortunately, he noted that AI, despite its positive sides, has complicated the vices of unfounded rumor, sensationalism, embellishment, and falsehood peddling, regretting that “we would not progress if we continue on this path.”
The Commissioner commended the Nigerian media “considering the good works they have done amid these challenges”, however, he appealed that the media should not relent.
“The mass media as agents of social change set agenda for public discourse. They must help us to set up the right agenda and show us the way to the Promised Land,” he appealed.
Mr Akinterinwa congratulated The Podium Magazine for successfully berthing in Ondo State, noting that Ondo State is very relevant to the development of Nigeria. “The Ondo State Government under the capable leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has continued to build the new Ondo State of our dream, and all hands must be on deck to ensure that Ondo State retains its pride of place as a foremost progressive and prosperous state in Nigeria”, he added.
