Journalists covering the Niger State Government House were on Thursday prevented from entering into the Government House to carry out their duties.
The journalists, who were supposed to attend a press briefing, were delayed as the security manning the gate told them they were not on schedule and could not be allowed in.
It was reliably gathered that the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, had earlier scolded the security men manning the gate owing to reports they are not doing their jobs.
Bello’s order was not unconnected with the influx of miscreants into the Government House.
It however took the intervention of some government officials before journalists were allowed in.
And this was not before a shouting match and serious vehicular hold-up, which lasted for about 40 minutes at the entrance.
The pleading of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibraheem Dooba, and the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Samson Alfa, did not help.
The Correspondents, most of whom have been covering the Government House for years, were perplexed by this new order because even when identity cards were tendered, they were still not listened to.
When the leadership of the Correspondents demanded for reasons why they were barred, one of the security men manning the gate said: “You people are not on schedule.”
Addressing the CPS, an operative of the Department of State Services, dressed in black suit said: “You should have let us know before they arrived that they were coming.
“You should have given us their names.
“We will not allow them in.”
The security men, also including policemen and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, went ahead to close the gate, stopping both human and vehicular movement until a top security officer ordered them to open the gate and allow journalists in so as not to get negative reportage.
The Chief Security Officer of the Government House, Ibrahim Gambari, also apologised on behalf of his men, stating that it will not happen again.
Dooba, while speaking to journalists, expressed dissatisfaction over the incident, lamenting that most people abuse their constitutional power by disrespecting other people who are doing their legitimate duties.
Dooba said although the security operatives were doing their jobs, they should do it with decency and respect.
According to him: “It has been customary for most people to use their constitutional power to offend people.
“It is true that the security were doing their jobs but they can do their job with decency and respect.
“You just cannot disrespect people just because you are carrying out orders.
“The journalists were invited to do their jobs and since they have identified themselves, it is only normal for them to be allowed entrance.”
The Chief Press Secretary further apologised to the journalists stating that the problem will be addressed soonest.
Accordingly, he said: “On behalf of the government and on behalf of the security, I apologise for the incident.
“We will solve the problem immediately.
“It is true that there was an order that people should not be allowed anyhow into the Government House but that order is not extended to journalists.”
—
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
