A/Ibom Govt rejects IPI’s sanction against Gov. Eno

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected sanctions imposed by the International Press Institute (IPI) on Governor Umo Eno, describing them as misguided and based on inaccurate information.

Daily Trust had reported how the IPI Nigeria, on Tuesday, unveiled its first-ever Book of Infamy, listing Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun; Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno; and Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, over alleged violation of press freedom.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Eno on National and International Media, Mr Anietie Usen, said the sanctions do not depict the friendly disposition and contributions of the governor to the media ecosystem in Nigeria.

Reacting to IPI’s blacklisting of Governor Eno for withdrawing the accreditation of Channels Television Reporter and Cameraman from Akwa Ibom State Government House Press Corps, Usen told journalists at the Government House Uyo, on Friday, that the the decision was taken based on the absence of a thorough investigation into the routine withdrawal of accreditation of Channels TV crew who allegedly violated the rules of their engagement with the government.

Usen, a former General Editor of Newswatch Magazine, said the crew of Channels TV reported a certain portion of the Governor Eno’s remarks that had been officially declared “off record”.

“Off record remark is a time honoured practice in journalism profession globally. Every journalist of intergrity the world over is trusted to honour every material officially declared as off record.”

“It must be noted that in a Press Corps of 38 journalists, the affected TV crew of two, was the only team that violated these laid down rules, which I personally considered as ethical misconduct.

“The curious aspect of this issue is that it was not the reporter who filed the embargoed story but his cameraman. While that unusual circumvention remained inexplicable, we had no choice than to request Channel TV to kindly replace their crew and the TV station obliged without any hesitation whatsoever. It’s as simple as that.

“Every solid organisation is run and driven by rules and regulations, otherwise you may wind up with some sort of anarchy in a sensitive environment like the Government House.

“As a core, infantry (if you permit that word) journalist myself, there is no way I would have accepted any form of sanction against another journalist, if these guys were on good professional grounds.

“I imagine the affected crew members were not just an embarrassment to us in the press centre but to their first-class TV station in Lagos,” Usen stated.

Similarly, Mr Nsiebiet John, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, and his immediate past predecessor, Mr Amos Etuk, have kicked against the sanction of IPI.

John, at the ongoing press week of the state council, stated that there was no repression of journalists in the state, noting that he would have mobilized to fight any infringement against journalists if there was any in the state.

“If there is any infringement against journalists in Akwa Ibom, I would be at forefront to challenge it,” he said.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.