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Attacks On The Media In August 2000
Students Threaten To Burn Media Houses Vehicles
Students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, on
August 8 vowed to wage war against media houses which published a story
that six female students of the institution allegedly had sex with dogs
for monetary reward. They threatened to burn the operational vehicles of
The Punch and Sketch newspapers for publishing the news item. The story
was sourced from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
All the officers of the school interviewed denied the
authenticity of the said report, which they said, was damaging
The Student Union President, Mr. Adebayo Owogbemi,
threatened that they were ready for a big showdown with all the media
concerned.
National Assembly Bans Camera At Galleries
The National Assembly on August 12 banned the use of
cameras, mobile phones and the reading of newspapers and magazine at the
Senate and House of Representatives galleries. The order was conveyed
through a pamphlet titled “Gallery User” that was produced by the House of
Representatives.
The noyice said conversations “that usually distract” other
users during proceedings in the chambers are also forbidden. In addition,
“members of the public are not allowed to clap or applaud during debates
or when the House is about to reach a decision on any matter”, thee notice
added.
The pamphlet said that admission into the galleries was a
privilege accorded to members of the public to watch elected members’
proceedings. It added that the privilege does not in any way confer the
right to participate, either overtly or covertly, in the proceedings of
the House by visitors. This, the pamphlet said “is indeed a gross
misconduct for which both the Constitution and the House provide ample
sanctions.
Major Ordered The Assault Of Journalist
Aides of Major (Mrs.) Mojisola Obasanjo (rtd), President
of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN) during the week assaulted and seized
the property of a Sunday Times reporter who had gone to interview her in
order to clarify some issues. Major Obasanjo said she was incensed by
perceived negative reports of her activities which she said could no
longer be ignored because they were adversely affecting her business.
She subsequently warned pressmen to steer clear of her
residence henceforth.
Governor Akande Directs Hate Speech At Journalists
Chief Bisi Akande, the Governor of Osun State accused
journalists of being the major problems of his administration.
Consequently, he made hate speeches at journalists cursing that they would
all perish.
Speaking to representatives of Nigeria’s three political
parties in Osun State on the labour crisis in the State, he claimed
journalists were not friendly with his government. He said “media men
in the State are the greatest problems my administration is facing.
Anybody that wants to unravel the mystery of God will perish, so
journalists in the State would perish.”
The Guardian Sacks Union Officials
Messrs. Gbolahan Gbadamosi and Dickson Adeyanju, Chairman
and Secretary respectively of The Gaurdian Chapel of the Nigeria Union of
journalists (NUJ) were on August 18 sacked by the management of the
newspaper ostensably for indulging in union activities.
A statement signed by them alleged that they were ordered
to leave the company’s premises on the day without reason. Mr. Emeka Eluem
Izeze, Managing Director of the group of newspapers had on that day
evening informed the duo that the Chairman of The Guardian, Mr. Alex Ibru
had ordered their sack.
Messrs. Gbadamosi and Adeyanju were Judicial and Religious
Affairs Correspondents respectively before their sack. They led other
staff of The Guardian, under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of Guardian
Workers, a week earlier, in a peaceful demonstration to demand for
improved working conditions.
On August 22, management alleged that a caller has informed
them that some unknown persons were threatening to attack the computers,
lithographic, printing press sections, power generating sets and
circulation vehicles of the media organisation. They reported having
called the men of the NPF to investigate the alleged planned arson attack.
The sacked workers were, however, reinstated after a strike
action called by the workers with the support of the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC) forced the management of The Guardian to dialogue with the
workers.
Journalists Locked Out Of Media Centre
Accredited Nigerian journalists who requested to use the
Media Centre in Abuja to gather information and file to their stories to
their various media houses left dejected on August 27 when they were
locked out. They were turned back at the gates when they reported to use
the centre’s facilities following Clinton’s visit to Ushafa village near
Abuja.
An official of the centre reportedly told the journalists
that some security men came to close the center because it would be used
for a business group meeting by the visiting President Bill Clinton,
Nigerian business community and their American counterpart. Another
official said they had to send the journalists away because the centre had
to be swept and scanned by US security operatives.
The centre is equipped with modern communication gadgets
like telephone, fax, Internet, computers and photocopiers, which were
installed specifically for the use of journalists covering President
Clinton’s visit.
The journalists expressed disgust at the abrupt closure
saying the security operatives were just trying to make their job very
difficult during the visit.
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