Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The Nigeria Union Of Journalists, Imo state Council has condemned the attack on one of her members who was manhandled by the younger brother to the governor of Imo state, Mr Uche Uzodinma.
In a release signed by its spokesman, Sir Sunny Ndukwu (KSM),the union stated that Imo NUJ had waited this long to meet with her member before taking any position, having confirmed and ensured his safety while in Lagos, the release expressed displeasure over the rising incidents of intimidation and assaults on journalists in the state by some politicians and government appointees,v a situation which is fast becoming a recurring decimal, in their ill-perceived attempt to gag the media.
He said, “According to our member and publisher of Nigeria Watchdog newspaper, Comr. Precious Nwadike who narrated his ordeal, he disclosed that the governor’s younger brother, Mr Uche Uzodinma supervised some thugs who manhandled him where he had gone to effect his National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment along Port Harcourt road, Owerri, penultimate week.
“The defenseless Precious Nwadike was left unconscious except for the help of passers-by who came to his rescue. He was consequently flown to a Lagos hospital for adequate medical care.
Ndukwu said the Media practitioners in the state are partners of every government in progress as we have helped in promoting government’s policies and day to day activities in every administration in the state.
“It becomes worrisome when overzealous aides or siblings of the governor resort to crude brutality when dealing with journalists or any other member of the public for that matter.
“Anybody, either a government appointee or corporate entity who feels his or her image is defamed by any information published by any media outfit can seek redress through the appropriate channels and can of course sue for defamation, instead of taking the laws into their hands.
“The Union seizes this opportunity to call on the governor, Sen Hope Uzodinma to caution his overzealous aides and siblings to desist from intimidating Imo residents and particularly media practitioners in the state.
“Since Uche Uzodinma’s attack on Nwadike, no fewer than three persons have stepped forward to narrate their own ugly experiences in the hand of the Governor’s brother.
“Consequently, it becomes expedient for the governor to take steps to restrain his brother from throwing his weight around in the state. We advise the governor therefore, to investigate the activities of his younger brother because it is the primary responsibility of the governor to protect every Imo citizen even if it means protecting them against his own brother, Uche Uzodinma, ” Ndukwu stated.
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