A veteran journalist, Dr. Garba Ubale Danbatta, has commended Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for dropping Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya as Commissioner for Information in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Danbatta, who has over 30 years experience in journalism, said Waiya’s approach to running the ministry was more of activism and advocacy than professional journalism.
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In a statement issued on Monday, the veteran journalist said Waiya’s style did little to strengthen professional standards and improve the image of the media industry in the state.
“As someone who has spent over 30 years in journalism, I commend Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his decision to remove the former Commissioner for Information. His approach was not that of a journalist; rather, he operated like an activist, an approach that distorted the profession because it conflicted with established ethics and standards of journalism,” he said.
Danbatta further alleged that Waiya’s activities created a negative perception of Kano State among organisations that monitor media freedom and professional standards.
“His actions created a negative perception of Kano State among organisations that monitor the media industry and the rights of journalists. It is truly regrettable,” he added.
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He urged the governor to appoint a qualified and experienced professional with a solid background in journalism and a cordial working relationship with media practitioners to head the ministry.
According to him, the next commissioner should prioritise development of the media industry, promote professional ethics and work towards restoring the reputation of journalism in the state.
Danbatta also expressed readiness to offer professional advice and support to the state government to improve the media sector.
“If the governor takes this step, we are prepared to continue offering our full support and advice to help improve the profession and elevate its standing in Kano State in the eyes of the world,” he said.
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Dr. Danbatta has over three decades of experience, having worked with several media organisations within and outside Nigeria, including the Hausa Service of Deutsche Welle (DW) in Bonn, Germany; Daily Trust, Rariya newspaper, Hamada Radio, Abuja, Kiss FM, Abuja, and Radio Nigeria in a managerial capacity.
Waiya was recently redeployed from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as part of Governor Yusuf’s cabinet reshuffle.
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