By Rikki Nwajiofor
The PDP Candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Hon Barr Uche Onyeagucha, has joined the league of well-meaning Nigerians in condemning the harrassment and threats unleashed on a popular radio presenter and Activist, Chinonso Uba popularly known as Nonsonkwa, by the Government of Imo State.
Reacting to the outcry of Chinonso Ubah on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning, as suspected armed security men surrounded his residence, many patriotic Nigerians took to the media and cautioned the Governor of Imo state on his use of brutal force on Journalists in the state.
In a press statement, released to the media houses through his Special Assistant on Media – Prince MacDonald Enwere, Hon Onyeagucha condemned “Governor Uzodimma’s high-handedness and arbitrary use of naked power to suffocate press freedom and strangulate democratic voices in the state”. The press statement reads;
“Harassment and invasion of Chinomso Uba’s Residence: Imo State is turning into a Banana Republic.
“The PDP Candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Hon Barr Uche Onyeagucha, wishes to condemn in totality the recent invasion of the Owerri residence of Oziza Radio broadcaster, Mr Chinomso Uba (Nonso Nkwa) by armed security operatives under the instruction of the state Government.
“It is indeed, saddening that few days after Governor Hope Uzodimma prevailed on the National Broadcasting Commission to shutdown the Catholic owned radio station in the state, Oziza 96.1 FM, for exposing the recent carnage at Otulu in Awomamma, government has not relented in its plans to crackdown on journalists and media houses in the state.
“Governor Uzodimma’s high-handedness and arbitrary use of naked power to suffocate press freedom and strangulate democratic voices in the state is alarming, reprehensible and highly condemnable.
“We are particularly dismayed on the frequency at which Journalists in the state are being harassed, intimidated and abused by the Government of Hope Uzodimma. If any Journalist indulges in any act considered to be against the ethics of the profession, the Government should resort to legitimate course of action rather than use of brute force. Imo state under Governor Uzodimma is turning into a banana Republic where democratic principles and rule of law are grossly negated with blatant impunity.
“No journalist in the state should be harassed, intimidated or threatened on the course of discharging his responsibility. We are calling on all journalists in the state, civil society organisations and other well meaning Imolites to rise against the progression of despotism and totalitarianism in our dear state.”
