Rooted in the Press: Gov’s Spokesman Marches with Edo Journalists, Affirms Media’s Place in Democracy

Rooted in the Press: Gov’s Spokesman Marches with Edo Journalists, Affirms Media’s Place in Democracy

By Admin The Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, on Thursday stepped back into familiar territory as he joined journalists in a spirited march past at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration.

Ebojele, who built his career in journalism before his appointment, walked shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, a gesture that drew applause and warm nods from participants and onlookers at the stadium.

Speaking shortly after the parade, the governor’s spokesman said his decision to march with his former colleagues was a deliberate return to his professional beginnings and a public show of solidarity with media practitioners across the state.

“Journalism is a calling I remain proud of,” Ebojele told reporters at the sidelines of the event. “Marching with my colleagues today is my way of honoring the work they do daily and restating that, though I now serve in government, my bond with the press remains unbroken.”

He described Workers’ Day as a moment to acknowledge the sweat and sacrifice of every worker driving national growth, but singled out journalists as indispensable guardians of democracy. 

According to him, the media’s role in informing citizens, enlightening the public, and holding leaders to account cannot be overstated. He added that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo maintains an open-door posture toward the press and holds practitioners in the highest regard.

Reacting to the CPS’s gesture, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, praised Ebojele for remembering his roots, calling it a powerful act of solidarity that bridges government and the newsroom.

“Seeing one of our own, now in a strategic government role, still walk with us means a lot,” Alenkhe said. “It lifts the spirit of journalists and reminds us that the bond between government and the media can be one of mutual respect and trust.”

He reiterated the NUJ’s commitment to ethical journalism and constructive engagement with government, stressing that such cooperation ultimately serves the public interest.