Unbelievable! Gov Umahi Threatens Lives Of Journalists; Bans The Sun, Vanguard Reporters For Life From Ebonyi

By Charles Igbo

In an action that would make the most autocratic Dictator in the world green with envy,

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has banned for life, the Correspondents of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering Government House and all government facilities in the State.

He did not stop at that. He told them their safety could no longer be guaranteed anywhere in the state. Ebonyians will descend on then, he further  warned.

The Governor made   made the unprecedented declaration on Wednesday in a statewide live broadcast aired on both the State’s television and radio stations, Umahi also expressed his displeasure with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), for failing to discipline their members.

Last week Saturday, on  the orders of the Governor, The Sun Correspondent, Chijioke Agwu, was arrested over a report he did on the  outbreak of Lassa fever in the state. He was later released.

Three days later, it was the turn of Mr. Peter Okutu of the Vangard Newspapers to be arrested, this time,  on the orders of the Ohaukwu LGA Chairman, Mr Clement Odah, over a report on the alleged military invasion of Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in the council area. He has also been released.

In the broadcast, Umahi,  who said the safety of the two journalists  could no longer be guaranteed by him, noted that Ebonyi people were brimming with anger, and might begin to unleash mayhem on them.

Umahi “If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko.”

“I want to say that I am very displeased with the president and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and I am going to seize their allowances for two months, because they have failed to discipline their members.

“Ebonyi State is no longer a dumping ground. Only the other day, Chijioke Agwu (referring to The Sun Correspondent) wrote that Lassa Fever is killing Ebonyi people in droves and few days back, Mr Peter Okutu of Vanguard did his own.

“Okutu is fond of degrading Ebonyi State, and I don’t know why my officials have allowed him to continue to do that, because he is not from Ebonyi State. I want to ban him for life with Chijioke Agwu. I don’t want to see them anywhere in any Government facility.

“We are not begging you to give us good report, because the only person that gives good or bad report is God. We are all accountable to him. If you think that Ebonyi State is a dumping ground, try it again.

“If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko. Let’s leave the Court alone. Ebonyi people are very angry with the press and let me warn that I won’t be able to control them or know when they unleash mayhem on you, if you continue to write to create panic in the State.

“I want you to write it that way, that I said, press in Ebonyi is trying to create another COVID that is more dangerous and that is to create panic in our people.

“The other one wrote that cholera has killed 20 people in Ohaukwu. If you try it again, I may not know when Ebonyians may react. This is important for the NUJ to know.

“If you are an Ebonyi man or live in Ebonyi and you don’t feel our pains, it is a shame on you. May be, the press people claim they are untouchable. I have reported to the National President of NUJ, I have reported to State leadership of NUJ and I have reported to the public. Now, the dye is cast. May God save us, in the course of time”.