Delta Community Calls for Objective Journalism Amid Oil Spill Crisis

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The Executive Chairman of Odidi Federated Community, Amb. Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama, has stated that the decline in responsive and investigative journalism is worsening the humanitarian and environmental crisis arising from the oil spill ravaging Odidi Communities in Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State.

In a statement titled _“Report Repertoire: The Absence of Investigative Journalism and Its Consequences on Society,”_ Gbenekama said the strength of any responsible society depends not only on its institutions but also on the quality, depth, and integrity of information made available to the public. He described investigative journalism as a critical pillar for accountability, transparency, and social justice.

The chairman lamented that media engagements were increasingly being reduced to propaganda, disclaimers, and politically motivated narratives instead of fact-based investigations. He said the recent disclaimer reportedly issued through section of the media concerning the oil spill had further exposed the decline in investigative reporting in some quarters of the media.

According to him, at a time when Odidi residents are facing environmental destruction, health risks, economic hardship, and ecological devastation, responsible actors should be uncovering the truth, amplifying the pains of affected residents, and demanding urgent intervention. Instead, he said, what emerged was a sponsored disclaimer allegedly linked to the former Secretary of Odidi Community, which many citizens described as insensitive and “outright devilish.”

Gbenekama stressed that investigative journalism is meant to bring hidden truths to light, hold power accountable, and prioritize public interest over personal or political agendas. He warned that the commercialization of narratives and the use of media platforms for vendettas and image laundering were eroding public trust.

He argued that the oil spill was not a political contest but a humanitarian and environmental crisis. The focus, he said, should be on fishermen unable to access clean waters, families exposed to pollution, and youths whose livelihoods are being destroyed daily. Any attempt to divert attention through sponsored disclaimers, he said, reflects a dangerous moral decline.

The chairman outlined the consequences of abandoning investigative reporting, including the spread of misinformation, shielding of those responsible for environmental negligence from scrutiny, delays in intervention efforts, and deepened suffering for affected people whose voices deserve to be heard.

He said history shows that communities facing injustice, environmental degradation, or leadership crises rely on objective reporting to secure justice and intervention. The Odidi spill crisis, he added, demands serious investigative attention, not media distractions.

Gbenekama urged stakeholders, media practitioners, and community leaders to rise above sentiment and embrace truth, responsibility, and humanity. He said the people deserve facts, accountability, and solutions, not sponsored narratives designed to protect personal interests while communities suffer.

“Ultimately, journalism must remain a tool for societal healing and justice, not an instrument of division, denial, or deception,” he said.