Governor Yahaya Bello: charged to ensure press freedom

Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

The Publisher of a Lokoja based community magazine, The Policy and Law maker, Mr Friday Ogungbemi is spending his sixth day in detention. He was arrested and detained last Wednesday by security agents in Kogi state for allegedly publishing stories against the state government and some public officials notably, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Edward Onoja.

While condemning the arrest and detention of the journalist, the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Publishers of Community based newspapers in Kogi State described as unlawful the arrest and detention of Ogungbemi, describing it as the height of impunity and rascality.

A statement issued and signed by Abu Michael, Chairman and Gideon Ayodele, Secretary of the chapel respectively, frowned at the alleged government action, describing it as the first of its kind in the state .

The Chapel said the continued detention of the publisher for more than 48 hours over a civil issue has called to question the level of impunity the present change agenda seeks to correct but still practice, said the arrest was using a sledgehammer to kill an ant.

In his own reaction, a Right activist and coordinator of Centre for Human Right and Conflict Resolution, Comrade Idris Miliki described the act of arresting and detaining journalists without charging them to court as barbaric and inhuman.

According to him, Article 21 of the United Nation Human Rights allow every citizens of the world to participate in the affair of his or her country through a free chosen means., adding Article 19 says “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right include freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State Council has said all efforts to dialogue with the state government and the Department of State Security to release Ogungbemi, have so far been rebuffed and therefore urged working journalists in the state to boycott the activities of the state government.

Several notable people in the state have intervened on the issue to either release the journalist or charge him to court, but so far the efforts have been futile.

It was learnt that Counsels to NUJ, and even the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in the state,Comrade Onuh Edoka, journalists and lawyers were in the DSS office to seek for his release to no avail, but a source hinted that only the governor could give the go ahead for his release.

In a statement signed by the State chairman and secretary, Mr Ali Atabor and Adeiza Momoh Jimoh respectively , the union expressed worry about the continued arrest and detention of his member for more several days without trial and prosecution and said it was unfortunate that the DSS in the state has allowed itself to be used as tool in the hand of government for oppression..

The statement reads in part “While we wish to state clearly that all efforts by the Union to reach all the concerned government authorities towards resolving the issues failed, we view the action to shut the doors against the Union by government authorities and its DSS agents as unlawful and wicked.

“Thus in the light of the above, the Union is left with no other choice but to declare as follows:

” That as is the practice in civilized clime, individuals and government are to seek redress in a court of law if they have grievances or feel injured in a publication rather than arbitrary arrest and detention of Journalists.

” That the Union has directed its members to boycott and withdraw its services from the state forthwith having exhausted all available channels for dialogue.

” The Union frowns at the unfortunate activities of the DSS in making itself a tool in the hands of the Kogi State Government.

“The Union demands without further delay the unconditional release of its member from the custody of the DSS.

” That the Union would not condone the contineous harassment, intimidation and threats to Journalists by government or its agents while carrying out their legitimate activities”. It added

As Ogungbemi continues his sojourn in detention, the State Government has denied involvement in the arrest. The Director-General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsly Fanwo in a statement said Governor Bello did not and would not order the arrest of any journalist doing his legitimate work. He said Bello sees the media as a development partner. He however added that “the DSS is not under the control of the Governor. They are there to mitigate any form of threat to peace and security and they consider anything an attempt to breach the peace, they are free to intervene to ensure peace and orderliness in the society.”

TheNews recalls that last month another journalist, Mr. Sam Egwu who reports Leadership newspaper was manhandled by thugs in Ganajja area of Lokoja. The thugs allegedly accused him of writing stories against government. Egwu was rescued by
some good Samaritans before mortal damage was done to his already frail body.