By Kenneth Uwadi
The Imo State House of Assembly directed the Clerk of the House to invite a Newspaper Publisher Mr Precious Nwadike of Watchdog Newspapers Owerri, the Newspaper Editor and the Author of an article in the Newspaper Stanley Chinedu Nwosu to the House for questioning on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Chinedu Nwosu had in a news story published in the June 4 2024 Edition of the Nigerian Watchdog Newspaper, pointed out how he prevented the Member Representing Orlu State Constituency, Hon Ikenna Martins Ihezuo from diverting 65 bags of rice released by the Imo State Government as palliative for the Orlu State Constituency.
By this action the Imo State House of Assembly has gone too far down the slope of content control. They have attempted to censor news content. This is an intimidation of news carriers. It is clearly an attempt to gag the media and make it impossible for journalists to unearth corrupt practices and serial violations going on in the government. It is also borne out of the deep-seated zero tolerance of the government to any opposition to its actions or inactions. This dastardly and despotic action of the anti-poor Uzodinma’s government, which is reminiscent of the dark era of military absolutism, is a bad omen. We say No to this.
Throughout the world, writers and journalists play a vital role in upholding democracy and ensuring the public’s right to information. Freedom of the press is protected by both the Nigerian Constitution and by international law.
The Imo House of Assembly has shown that it is diametrically opposed to the democratic and constitutional rights of free speech. It is an indicator that the House has no respect for press freedom. This plot to put Watchdog Newspaper out of circulation will fail and the excuses will not stand the test of the law, the test of decency, or the test of time. In the past, similar actions were moved against some Media persons in Imo state without success. Section 22 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution empowers the Press to demand responsibility and accountability of the government to the people. The press and members of civil society are here to watch the excesses of any government anywhere in the world. The press is the guardian of the people as the fourth estate of the realm.
I call on other media houses in the state, trade union activists locally and internationally, organizations and individuals in Imo State, student and youth members, activists across the federation and the general public to condemn this attack on Press freedom in Imo .Imo State House of Assembly must uphold freedom of the press and end intimidation towards journalists.
The shameless House members should go after criminals as Pressmen are not criminals. There are many kidnappers and thieves on the prowl in Imo. The Assembly should make laws to fight criminals. Intimidation cannot frighten the Press away from the truth. Any bad policy of the government is antithetical to the interest of the poor masses and as such the Press must speak against it. To be a media man is not only a great responsibility, but also a high honour and not a high crime.
The tactics to silence and intimidate journalists by the House of Assembly must be resisted. For five years now, the Hope Uzodinma government has been appointing people into the local government councils without elections. This is undemocratic and fraudulent. Moreover, funds and revenues of local governments are being diverted for pecuniary interests of the state government without the people being able to decide how funds allocated to the local councils are to be spent. This has made the local councils and the services they provide to be in decrepit conditions. Most local and intra-township roads are in terrible condition, while most primary healthcare facilities are hardly working, and those working are doing so on a skeletal basis. As against the past situation where local councils provided some educational supports like giving out educational materials such as textbooks, note books, chalk, etc., to schools, most of the schools in the state lack these basic supports. What did the State Assembly do about this in five years? They are now out to intimidate the media. Save Us Oh God.
-Kenneth Uwadi lives in Mmahu-Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema LGA , Imo State and can be reached via 08037982714
