Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that constructive criticisms by newspapers’ columnists and media organizations in the country were useful tools for re-appraisal for positive change by public office holders.

The Governor who stated this at the public presentation of ‘Conversations With My Country’ – a book written by Mrs. Funke Egbemode, an editor with The Sun newspapers, on Thursday, December 12, 2013 in Lagos, noted that rather than anger and antagonize those in authority, such constructive criticisms have been very useful.

“These are challenging times in our country Nigeria and the essence of criticisms as contained in ‘Conversations With My Country’ is to draw our attention to these challenges. It’s for us in position of authority to get the lessons from these criticisms and use them to effect the necessary changes as much as possible”, he stated.

According to him, contrary to some perceptions, public office holders were conversant with these columnists and often look forward to such critical articles even before they are published.

Besides, the Governor said that the success of media organizations in the country depended largely on the principle of non- interference adopted by the proprietors of the media outfits.

In particular, he observed that media organizations with little or no interference from their proprietors tended to be more efficient wit higher rate of success.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and Secretary th the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said that the book was a continuation of the constant search for the country’s search for inner voice of reason for a better country.

He urged every Nigerian and particularly the media to key into the collective effort to make the nation work better as “no nation progresses in the absence common commitment to our dreams”.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal commended the resourcefulness of the writer while the guest speaker, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija challenged Nigerians to bravely confront the problems of the country because continued pretence would do the nation no good.

The author, Mrs. Funke Egbemode thanked the audience for the honour done her and promised to do more in the service of the country.