Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The reported attack, assault and brutalization of Mr. Precious Nwadike, an Imo-based journalist and publisher, has been frowned at and totally condemned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State. The Party has interpreted the action as another evidence of the sustainable subtle gagging and infringement of the freedom of the press by the current regime in the State.
The party’s state publicity secretary, Ogubundu Nwadike said this while briefing journalists in Owerri , Imo state capital .
Nwadike said, “From the verified information, this Party noted that Mr. Nwadike was deliberately manhandled by aides and agents of the current regime. That conclusion was based on the fact that it is an abuse of the fundamental rights of a citizen, for even security operatives to mete out physical assault and battery on a citizen even when he contravened a law and was not evading arrest.
“Our Party also feels that it is unlawful for a traffic offender to be pounced upon and brutalized by agents of government to the extent of getting broken bones, bodily sprains, bruises and dislocations. From the eye-witness accounts, which corroborated the narrative of the victim, Mr. Nwadike, he only drove in an area where he did not know that he should not drive, because of the supposed road work in the area.
“It was further confirmed that on being ordered to drive back and out of the road construction area, he complied only to be rushed at and severely beaten up by men identified as aides and agents of the current regime. It was that unlawful act of attacking the citizen in that manner that makes our Party hold the current regime culpable of complicity in the entire sad episode.
According to Nwadike, “This Party wondered whether the fate that was visited upon Mr. Nwadike would have been visited upon any other citizen under the same circumstances. Or was he pummeled to pulp because he is a journalist and publisher, who has been writing and publishing articles that posit opposition to some of the notable poor performances by Governor Uzodinma?
“However, our Party strongly believes that Mr. Nwadike must have been deliberately victimized because he is a journalist and publisher who exposes the preponderant negative scorecard of Governor Uzodinma. All odds favour that argument. And Imo PDP finds it unacceptable.
“It is pertinent to point out that right from day one of the current regime, there has been an undisguised hatred and malice for the opposition media. It is such that a little after this regime’s 100 days in office, for merely exercising his freedom of speech, Mr. Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the then Director-General, Imo PDP New Media, was arrested, detained, charged to Court, arraigned and detained at the Nigeria Correctional Service at the orders of Governor Uzodinma. That media operative was detained for a total 26 days before he was released on bail by a Court. To us in PDP, that was war against freedom of the press and freedom of speech by the governor.
“The building that houses the offices of “Trumpeta Newspaper”, a prominent Imo-based tabloid was attacked and marked for demolition by aides and agents of Governor Uzodinma because the newspaper publishes stories about the areas of non-performance by the governor. Incidentally, one of the co-owners of the newspaper, Hon. Henry Ekpe, happens to be a the Deputy National Financial Secretary of PDP. Our Party saw that as an instance of gag and muzzle of the press by Governor Uzodinma.
“There has been threats upon threats directly and indirectly made by the governor with his aides and agents to media and publicity operatives of the organized opposition in the State that is led by the PDP. This attack on Mr. Precious Nwadike will conveniently make the list of established physical assaults on opposition journalists in Imo State. And the purpose must be to intimidate the press in the State against playing its constitutionally stipulated roles.
“This Party, while expressing gross displeasure and disappointment at the continued intimidations, harassments, and physical attacks on opposition media and their operatives by the current regime, reiterates that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens. Oppressing and suppressing citizens, particularly journalists and media practictioners by the current regime is unlawful.
“Imo PDP, therefore, charges Governor Uzodinma to rein in his aides and agents, and tutor them on the need to tolerate and accommodate free press, dissenting opinions, and opposition in general. No administration or regime can do without opposition.
“On the other hand, the governor with his aides and agents must respect fundamental rights of citizens. Under the circumstance, a violation of traffic laws, orders and directives, should result in arrest and fine, or arrest, prosecution, fine, and ultimately imprisonment as may be applicable in the laws of the land. Physically assaulting a citizen is never a democratic option in a democracy.
“Finally, Imo PDP advises that the manhandling and brutalization of Mr. Precious Nwadike be duly investigated to unravel the remote and immediate reasons for his ordeal in the hands of the aides and agents of Governor Uzodinma. At the end, anybody and everybody implicated for taking the laws in their own hands should be brought to justice and be made to face the full wrath of the law. Democracy abhors dictatorship, lawlessness and impunity, ” he added.
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