March 25, 2009
Dear Editor-I would not know why people do not learn from history. Only few months ago, a colleague of Governor Sylva of Bayelsa State (Gov Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State) had a shameful brush with the Fresh Facts newspapers. The governor was at the end left bruised. Now, Governor Sylva has done the same; making a serious u-turn on something he would have avoided in the first place.
For mere reason that a reporter with National Life (Mr. Akin Orimolade) had reported that Governor Sylva had a scuffle with the Bayelsa PDP Chairman was enough for the governor to bring his government machinery to bear on the poor reporter. The deceitful way with which the reporter was cornered with a cooked-up court order and whisked away to Bayelsa from Abuja was crude, to say the least.
Silverbird Group must clear itself from the episode because they were roundly mentioned and probably used. The reporter was lured to come for an advertisement booking of Silverbird for the National Life newspaper only to be abducted. Ben Bruce, the owner of Silverbird is from Bayelsa State and this is the more reason he must make some pronouncements to remove himself from this absurdity. After all, he runs media organizations where journalists form the key workers.
Governor Akpabio’s brush with Fresh Facts Newspapers and its Uyo distributor would remain indelible in the minds of Nigeria media. Governor Sylva has only come out to re-enact the ugly situation and one does not pity him.
Anti-Press Governors are unfolding; and this is not a military regime. Just like Akpabio, Sylva would be roundly disgraced in this matter and he definitely would live to regret the action. He has started by withdrawing the ‘court case’ against the National Life reporter.
Emmanuel James, 159 Woji Road, Port Harcourt.
For mere reason that a reporter with National Life (Mr. Akin Orimolade) had reported that Governor Sylva had a scuffle with the Bayelsa PDP Chairman was enough for the governor to bring his government machinery to bear on the poor reporter. The deceitful way with which the reporter was cornered with a cooked-up court order and whisked away to Bayelsa from Abuja was crude, to say the least.
Silverbird Group must clear itself from the episode because they were roundly mentioned and probably used. The reporter was lured to come for an advertisement booking of Silverbird for the National Life newspaper only to be abducted. Ben Bruce, the owner of Silverbird is from Bayelsa State and this is the more reason he must make some pronouncements to remove himself from this absurdity. After all, he runs media organizations where journalists form the key workers.
Governor Akpabio’s brush with Fresh Facts Newspapers and its Uyo distributor would remain indelible in the minds of Nigeria media. Governor Sylva has only come out to re-enact the ugly situation and one does not pity him.
Anti-Press Governors are unfolding; and this is not a military regime. Just like Akpabio, Sylva would be roundly disgraced in this matter and he definitely would live to regret the action. He has started by withdrawing the ‘court case’ against the National Life reporter.
Emmanuel James, 159 Woji Road, Port Harcourt.
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