Exclusive: First Anniversary- Uproar As Sanwo-Olu Ignores Media, Honours Health Workers, Gateman

Barely 24hrs after the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu rewarded and honoured health workers in the fight against COVID-19 in the state, backlash and anger have continued to trail the action of the governor.

The reaction is coming from men of the Nigeria media industry, especially those who work closely with the governor.

The journalists, who are attached to the office of the governor lament the lack of recognition, snub and neglect following the failure of the governor to recognise their efforts and consider them as frontline workers.

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Ekohotblog recalls that the governor on Friday, May 29, marked his one year in office and honoured ten health workers and a gateman at the Yaba Isolation Centre for efforts in the fight against Covid-19, while ignoring the media who had also put their lives in danger in covering and reporting the incident.

Some of the aggrieved journalists who spoke with Ekohotblog on condition of anonymity for fear of being witch hunted lamented non-recognition of their efforts by the governor.

” It is not only the health workers that should have been honoured and rewarded. What about us media that worked day and night, visiting isolation centres with the governor?

” We were always exposed to the risk of contracting the virus in the course of discharging our duties. We are the ones giving information to the public, attend daily briefings, yet we were not recognised,” lamented a female journalist who work with a popular media organisation and also attached to the governor’s office.

“The most painful part of it was that the governor even rewarded and honoured the gateman at the isolation centre. Does it mean we, the media, are not worthy of recognition and honour,” another asked rhetorically.

A male journalist, who is also attached to the governor’s office, while lamenting the snub, said while other front line workers where recognised at the event by sitting in the front seat, the journalists that attended the event at the State House, Marina, were overlooked and snubbed.

” Even when we got to the venue, we were not recognised. Only health workers were given respect in spite of all our efforts in and contributions to the fight against the virus through our timely coverage and reportage day and night. It is high time the media was given its due respect and recognition,” he lamented.

This online news platform reports that some of the health workers honoured at the event were Dr Sunday Adesola, Mrs Basirat Adeoye, Mr Folarin Amosun, Professor Sunday Omilabu,  Mr Olufemi Akinade, Dr Bisola Adebayo, and Mr Olanrewaju Aladetuyi.