With due respect, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, there is a growing concern among some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State over what appears to be a lack of recognition for those who have consistently defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

For a long time, I and a few others have used our social media platforms, particularly Facebook and X, to promote the achievements of the Tinubu administration, counter misinformation and respond to criticisms from opposition voices. We have done this voluntarily, at our own expense, investing our time, internet data and personal resources without financial support from any source.

In the process, we have endured insults, ridicule and online attacks simply because we have chosen to defend an administration we believe in and the President you serve as a minister.

It is against this background that the recently concluded Bloggers, Content Creators and Online Media Publishers Summit has raised questions about the recognition of committed supporters, particularly those in Niger State who have consistently used their platforms to communicate the government’s policies and achievements.

I was neither included in the list of participants for the Presidential Media Committee initiative, as I understood it, nor invited to the summit, despite my consistent support for you and President Tinubu. My support predates your appointment as minister and has continued throughout your tenure.

What makes the situation more concerning is that some individuals whose public social media activities do not, in my assessment, reflect consistent support for the President were reportedly given opportunities to participate. Meanwhile, some of those who regularly defend the administration appear to have been overlooked.

There is also a concern that some individuals within influential circles who publicly criticise or ridicule government supporters continue to enjoy access and opportunities. This raises questions about the criteria used to identify, engage and recognise people contributing to the government’s public communication efforts.

The question, therefore, is simple: Are those who consistently defend the government being recognised, or are committed supporters being left behind when opportunities arise?

This is not an argument against inviting critics or people with differing political views to government-sponsored engagements. A democratic society benefits from diverse opinions, and constructive criticism has its place. However, there should also be room to recognise those who have voluntarily invested their time and resources in defending the administration and communicating its achievements.

Political loyalty should not be taken for granted. When committed supporters repeatedly feel excluded, it can affect their morale and weaken the sense of inclusion needed to sustain an effective political structure at the grassroots.

Honourable Minister, we are not asking for money or special treatment. We are asking for fairness, respect and recognition. We want our contributions to be acknowledged and our commitment considered when opportunities arise to engage stakeholders, bloggers, content creators and online media practitioners.

Many of us have continued to stand by this administration despite the personal cost of doing so. We have defended its policies, responded to criticism and carried its message into online spaces, often without any expectation of financial reward. It is only reasonable to hope that such efforts will not go unnoticed.

My support for you and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains. However, I believe it is important to speak out when a situation creates the impression that loyalty is overlooked or taken for granted.

The government’s communication efforts can only be strengthened when genuine grassroots supporters feel valued and included. Recognition should be guided by fairness, transparent criteria and an appreciation of the different contributions people make.

My appeal to the Honourable Minister is to give this concern serious consideration and ensure that committed supporters in Niger State are not forgotten in future engagements.

Loyalty should not be mistaken for foolishness, and commitment should not be taken for granted.

The Writer is Labama Bagudu, a political loyalist.