Southeast journalists lash Umahi for arresting, banning correspondents from Ebonyi

Senior media practitioners from the South East have taken a swipe at Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State for ordering the arrest and detention of two media correspondents and banning them for life from operating in the state.

Governor Umahi had lashed at the two reporters for writing news stories that allegedly embarrassed the State Government. This, he said, has exposed the reporters to the anger and wrath of the people for which he would no longer able to guarantee their safety in Ebonyi and subsequently banned them from covering activities in the state.

But in a strong worded-statement titled: ‘Governor Umahi, The Imperial Lord In Ebonyi Over-Reaches Himself,’ the group of veteran journalists and senior media practitioners of South East origin under the aegis of Izunwanne, demanded an unreserved apology from Governor Umahi for “his reprehensible conduct and affront on the media,” while reminding him that in a democracy, he is “a servant and not a slave driver.”

The group said the Governor’s anti-media actions have provoked national outrage and angry reactions from well-meaning Nigerians and organizations for “ordering the arrest and detention of two journalists, Chijioke Agwu and Peter Okutu, the Ebonyi State correspondents of The Sun and Vanguard newspapers respectively. He did not stop there. He went ahead to ban them for life from operating in the State.”

Izunwanne was also alarmed and scandalized that the Governor, in a very unprecedented move, reportedly stated that the people of Ebonyi were aggrieved with the press and that “he might not be able to restrain them when they decide to unleash mayhem on journalists who are in the bad books of the Government,” and described such comment as “crude and inciting actions coming from a Governor elected to protect the welfare and security interests of the people.”

Izunwanne noted that “as a responsible and independent body committed to the best traditions of the watch dog role of the media, and in exercise of the duty imposed on us by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which is to hold the Government accountable to the people, we have tried to establish the facts in the issues in contention. Our findings showed that the Governor took the decisions against the journalists because The Sun correspondent, Chijioke Agwu, reported on the outbreak of Lassa fever in Izzi Local Government Area of the State which has reportedly claimed many lives.

Second, that the Vanguard correspondent, Peter Okutu, wrote a report on the invasion of a community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state by the military which conducted some killings over the disappearance of a Naval personnel.

“We have had cause to go through the reports of the two journalists in question, and we cannot find anything in those reports that suggested a design to undermine the Government and the State. The reports passed the journalistic test of balance and objectivity in which all sides were reflected.

“We appreciate The Sun and Vanguard correspondents for living up to the billing in their balanced reportage. We, therefore, find it embarrassing that an elected Governor would be threatening practicing journalists with detention, life ban and use of koboko.

“Izunwanne condemns in very strong terms the tyrannical attitude of Governor Umahi. By resorting to such underhand tactics, he has portrayed himself as an Imperial Lord who is not accountable to anybody or authority. If the Governor feels that the reporters breached any laws of the land, the courts are there for him to seek redress.

“But by subjecting the reporters to harassment and intimidation, Governor Umahi has breached his oath of office. He must therefore be called to order to retrace his steps and seek the path of civility and rectitude in the conduct of government business.

“We are not unmindful of some journalists who are compromised in their judgment because of issues of bread and butter. Such elements who operate in many Government Houses across the country easily lend themselves as willing instruments in suppression of news and information that do not pander to the whims of emperors like Umahi. We condemn this genre of journalists and their actions which bring opprobrium to the profession.”

Izunwanne noted that it could not be imagined that at “this age and time, an elected Governor would make a broadcast, threatening journalists, in course of their lawful duties, with life ban and detention. Following the backlash that greeted his actions, the Governor was compelled to issue a rebuttal through his Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, denying the threats, claiming that the text of his broadcast in which he made the offensive statements were doctored and manipulated.