From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has again threatened to arrest, sue and prosecute any journalist that is not officially invited to cover his activities in the state.
He made the pronouncement in Hausa language during the All Progressives Congress APC stakeholders interactive meeting held at the headquarters of Niger North Senatorial District (Zone C) in Kontagora.
According to reports, Governor Bago who was optimistic vowed to decisively deal with reporters that intrude into his activities, added that any Journalist that record them and report the news verbatim with be arrested and charge to court accordingly.
He emphasized that they did not invite any press to attend their meeting session and must stop recording while he ordered all the Journalists in attendance to immediately vacate the arena and not to come back to the venue because there is no freedom of speech in their hall of meeting.
It was reliably gathered that, governor Umar Bago suddenly collected micro phone and gave the order when the State APC chairman Alhaji Aminu Bobi in his remarks purportedly expressed his worry, saying that the governor’s cabinet members and appointees are found of playing eyes service (sycophancy) when the governor is around but usually shun to contribute meaningfully during his absence.
However, governor Mohammed Umar Bago has been repeatedly threatening, harassing and intimidating Journalists in the state unabated even before he assumed office on 29th May, 2023.
It could be recalled that the same governor recently ordered the Niger state commissioner of Police to closed down Badeggi FM Radio Minna, revoke his license if he has, sealed the station and profile the station owner Alhaji Shuaibu Badeggi.
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