MOLESTATION OF JOURNALIST BY SSS & POLICE: Governor Akpabio Apologises

It was an uncommon sight to behold on Thursday January 17, 2013 when the most popular and decorated governor in Nigeria, Sir Dr. Godswill Akpabio demonstrated humility as he apologized to Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim, a Correspondent of The Nation newspaper who was brutalized by two officers of the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police Force at the Banquet Hall of Akwa Ibom State government.

 The event which was a thanksgiving service in honor of governor Akpabio’s 50 years anniversary was held  in December 2012 and Mr Kazeem went to cover the event.  It was reported to the governor by the publisher of Golden Thymes newspaper, Mr Samuel Joshua, and the governor promptly apologized to Mr Kazeem and all the Journalists, promising that such a thing will not repeat itself.

 The governor explained that such a bizarre  would not have occurred in a state event, but said it was because the National Security Adviser of the country was there at the venue of the event, his presence and the terrorist tendencies could have tensed up the environment which caused the security men to behave the way they did.

 The governor charged Journalists to do self introspection in 2013 and keep to the ethics of their work, adding that the ably qualified Journalists in the state could come together to form a strong national newspaper.  He said individuals in the country were busy applying for license to operate private Radio and Television Stations.

He used the occasion to announce the donation of four new buses to aid media activities of the chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the State.  He also donated a bus to the AKBC chapel of the NUJ.

 In his remarks, Comrade Joe Effiong thanked the governor for the four new buses donated to the NUJ, the new printing machine meant for The Pioneer newspaper, the digital transmitter/studio provided for the AKBC but appealed to the governor to assist complete the new  NUJ Secretariat and construct the Information Drive, which he said was the shortest road in Uyo where office of The Pioneer newspaper and NUJ Secretariat were located.