Kaduna Govt Bars Journalists From Covering NGF’s Meeting

…First In History Of State – Journalists Groan

From Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

Kaduna state government has denied journalists access to cover the Northern Governors Forum’s meeting in Sir Kashim House (Government House) at the weekend.

Journalists who expressed their displeasure over the sad development said that the development.is the first in history, since the return of democracy in 1999.

Just as they added that the sad situation is an indication that the mother body of journalists; the NUJ, is fast becomiñg a weak body, who can no longer protect the right and the intrest of its members in the face of molestation and denial to their dutý.

The over 40 journalists who were denied access to the venue of the meeting berated the actions of the Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Musa who also claimed to be a professional journalist.

They added that his action was unacalled for, unprofessional, and unacceptable for keeping his colleagues inside the hot sun for almost two hours without any remorse.

The affected journalists who are both from international and local media said that they were disapointed by the actions of the Press Secretary and the leadership of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who kept mute while their members were facing the humilation.

They however, remainded the CPS that his action is amounted to disloyalty against his boss, and by extension, the Kaduna state government, adding that he should remember that no medium in journalism that is greater than the other. Many examples are abound that small Newspapers and Radio have contributed to the down fall of many government in the past, because they were ignored by those who were giving the responsibility to manage the affairs of the press.

In this context, those whose official duty is to promote the welfare of journalists should not see themselves as an authority above their colleagues, but rather partners to the success of their pay masters.

The journalists also argued that the CPS lacks the capacity to angle the media apparatus of a state like Kaduna, adding that since his assumption of office he has displayed incompetence in his role as the CPS by not giving adequate publicity to his Principal and also causing division amongst journalists.

The aggrieved journalists therefore chanllenged the Kaduna NUJ Council leadership to state clearly of its alleged involvement in the selection of few journalists who were allowed access to the venue of the assignment.