The Imo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has been alerted of a renewed plot by some elements of the Imo state government to clampdown on the media ahead of the 2023 general elections.
This time around, they have elected to use a faceless organization known as, “Imo Coalition For Justice, Peace And Democracy.”
In a statement signed by
Comrd. Austin Okoro, Imo NUJ Secretary he said the Caretaker Chairman of Imo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Precious Nwadike is now at the receiving end of their barbaric onslaught.
According to Okoro, Information available to the council indicates that Nwadike was on Wednesday served a police invitation to appear before the Commander of Crime Control Unit of Imo State Police Command on Friday, September 16, 2022.
He narrated, “On the said date, our Chairman being a law-abiding citizen of Imo State, innocently visited the Police Command to ascertain what was the crux of the matter, since the subject was not mentioned in the invitation letter.
“On getting to the Unit, he was shown a petition by a group, known as Imo Coalition for Justice, Peace and Democracy which the police hinted was linked to the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma.
“When Comrade Nwadike probed further on the existence of such group as he found it rather laughable and unconscionable to respond to a petition by a faceless group which was only signed by one Ahumaraeze Ikechukwu, he was then told that Government is interested in the case.
“In the said petition, the faceless group claimed that Comrade Nwadike, the Publisher of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper caused to be published a report indicating that some innocent persons were killed in Orlu, Orsu and Awo-Ommama which according to the petitioners, was not true insisting, no person was killed hence, the said publication constitutes what they termed sedition.
“The other leg of the petition is that Comrade Precious Nwadike caused to be published a report that business owners in Imo are lamenting multiple taxation, which report also constitutes sedition.
“Other issues raised on whether Comrade Precious Nwadike is a trained journalist does not only portray the writers as petty and naive but exposes how desperate they are in trying to call a dog a bad name just to hang it. We shall be giving impetus to their spurious claims if we begin to respond to such allegations.
“Nwadike went ahead to respond to the issues raised in the petition. He maintained that the newspaper’s reports reflect the reality in Imo and cannot be termed seditious.
Speaking further, “the Union therefore commends the Unit Commander and the State Commissioner of Police for the professional manner that they handled the matter but would also advise that they become more circumspect in addressing some petitions from these agents of the present government as in our opinion, such petitions are frivolous and will only rubbish the hardwork of the Imo State Police Command in building an image for itself.
“It is our opinion that power is truly transient. Institutions like the Police should refuse to be used as a willing tool for the machinations of desperate politicians. There is no gainsaying the fact that the government has proven itself as being intolerant to divergent views.
“As a professional body, we advise the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma to look inwards and purge itself of some elements who use government apparatus to intimidate law abiding citizens and sometimes, harass perceived enemies of the administration.
“The media has a constitutional responsibility which it would continue to uphold for the interest and benefit of the society. No amount of intimidation will cow journalists from carrying out their legitimate assignment of holding those in authority accountable to the people, as provided in section 22 of the 1999 Constitution.
“When a harmless and factual report as referenced above is deemed as seditious, the law simply provides that the complainants, this time, state actors, should seek redress in the court of law.
“It will be a sad commentary for Imo state, if by the impunitous actions of state actors, we are flung back to the dark days of jackboot democracy.
“May Imo prevail.
