The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has censured the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, for proscribing two journalists from the Government House.
The governor came under heavy criticism following the ban of two correspondents, The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from the State House or any government facility in the state.
A statement signed by the CWPPF, the group said the governor’s war against the media houses and journalists is “blatant intimidation and harassment.”
“CWPPF condemns the illegal banning of the correspondents of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering Government House and Government facilities in the State for life. This decision by the governor is absurd considering that the government house is not private property,” the statement read in part.
The group urged the governor to respect the Constitution that guarantees the rights of journalists to gather and disseminate information in public interest and to hold the government accountable.
It noted that the life threats placed on the banned journalists has been noted, and if anything happens to either Agwu or Okutu, the governor would be held responsible.
In a state-wide broadcast, the governor expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of the journalists.
According to him, The National Union Of Journalists has failed the properly monitor and sanction its members when necessary.
“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, he said. “I am going to seize their allowances for two months because they have failed to discipline their members.”
