By James Orji
Governor Bello Masari of Katsina’s state harassment of journalists is a plot to stiffen press freedom in the state, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ FCT chapel has said.
The umbrella body of journalists in the country, in a letter signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, chairman and secretary of NUJ FCT Council respectively, said on Tuesday that the governor should feel free to approach the court if he felt his right has been infringed upon,
NUJ spoke following the arrest of Nelson Omonu in Abuja by security operatives believed to have acted on the order of the Katsina helmsman.
Omonu was, after his arrest on January 1 in the nation’s capital, whisked to Katsina and whereabout unknown
Instead of harassing journalists who are performing their legitimate duties, NUJ said, “we think the governor will do well by directing the instrument of state towards arresting the ugly menace which continues to threaten the peace of the state than intimidating a journalist who is duty bound to hold government accountable to the people.
“Moreover, council is not unaware of serious security challenges facing the North West States as whole which Katsina is part of and urges the governor to direct his energy and channel valuable time in confronting these issues including the growing protests against insecurity, brutality and impunity in the North rather than arresting and detaining a journalist unjustly” the statement read in part.
“We call on the governor to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Umonu and as a former Speaker of the House of Representatives,Governor Masari should run a law based government rather than resort to harassment and intimidation of a journalist.
“Make no mistake about it, NUJ will resist any and all attempts to stifle press freedom and gag journalists in the performance of their constitutional guaranteed role of holding government and its officials accountable to the people.
“The union will continue to forensically x-ray the activities of government officials and in particular those who believe they can use their positions to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain journalists for reporting on them” the statement said.
