PRESS FREEDOM VIOLATORS : IPI BLACLISTS IGP, AKWA IBOM, AND NIGER STATE GOVERNORS
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has listed three public officials in its Book of Infamy for violating press freedom and democratic norms .
KEY ISSUES:
– Arbitrary Arrests: Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has failed to stop arbitrary arrests of journalists nationwide.
– Media Blackout: Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State barred Channels TV crew from covering government house activities.
– Radio Station Closure: Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, a private radio station.
– Refusal to Back Down: Both governors refused to reconsider their decisions despite IPI Nigeria’s appeal.
HONOURABLE MENTION:
– DG DSS, Adeola Ajayi, was honoured for his commitment to protecting journalists and upholding press freedom .
The Book of Infamy serves as a permanent accountability mechanism, documenting public officials who undermine media freedom in Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima has offered to mediate between IPI Nigeria and the listed officials .
For the DG of the DSS, he was described as a listening head of a sensitive government agency who has listened to interventions by the IPI and corrected wrongdoings pointed out to him.
Top on the list of such was the removal from the government’s watchlist of the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, after 40 years.
Ajayi was also credited with the quick release of journalists wrongly arrested by the secret police.
Responding to the position of the IPI Nigeria, as presented by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, during the unveiling of the Book of Infamy, Vice President Shettima said he would reach out to all those accused of having breached the rights of journalists.
He invited Mojeed to travel with him to Akwa Ibom State, where he would be visiting soon, to resolve the issue Eno had with Channels TV.
He also promised to reach out to Bago, who he described as his friend, and Egbetokun.
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