– Condemn Attack On Colleague
Journalists who operate under the auspices of Imo field journalists yesterday stormed the Imo state house Assembly in their numbers to demand the immediate suspension of Hon Kennedy Ibe, Lawmaker representing Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State at the Imo State House of Assembly.
Addressing Newsmen at the Imo State House of Assembly complex, the leader of the group, Comrade Kelechi Ugo said that the Imo Field Journalists have come to register their anger over the battery of their colleague, Mr Chuks Finian by thugs at the instance and command of Kennedy Ibe. They described the ill-treatment meted out to Mr Chuks, who publishes Newsfield Magazine as barbaric and unacceptable to Imo field Journalists.
The group called on the leadership of the Imo State House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency suspend Hon Kennedy Ibe for portraying himself as bestial and an irresponsible lawmaker. They argued that only irresponsible politicians will resort to brutish manner of getting back at their perceived detractors or critics.
The group carried placards with such inscriptions as, “Imo journalists are no longer safe”, “we demand suspension of Kennedy Ibe”. “He should be tried for attempted murder”, etc. The journalists averred that nobody is above the law as such; there should not be a hiding place for Ibe having committed grievous offence against the state.
Speaking further, the group vowed to stop at nothing in seeking justice for Chuks whom they said was almost killed because they thought if he had died, nobody would speak for him. “We condemn the action. We want governor to intervene. Today it is Chuks, tomorrow, it could be any of us”, Ugo stated.
Recall that Hon Kennedy Ibe last week Thursday, May 28, 2020, visited Imo APC secretariat to witness the defection of PDP members to APC. According to the report, on getting to the venue, Ibe sighted Chuks Finian and ordered some thugs who accompanied him to the venue to beat up the journalist. It was gathered that the said journalist was later admitting into the intensive care unit of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri for medical attention.
Addressing the protesters, Hon. Barr Dominic Ezerioha, Member for Oru West State Constitutiency and the House Committee Chairman on Information and Judiciary in the presence of Hon. Mrs Ngozi Obiefule, Isu and Hon. Barr. Obinna Okwara, Member for Nkwerri, stated that they are aware of the roles Journalists play in the society.
He said that no society will grow without the contributions of journalists. He regretted that some aides attached to a member of the Assembly are now accused of beating up a journalist while promising that the Imo State House of Assembly will look into the matter.
IHon. Ngozi Obiefule while also addressing the protesters, said journalists are in danger at all time.She berated the leadership of Imo Field Journalists for not taking stand on the suspension of Vivian Ottih, a Staff of IBC who was suspended for speaking out and demanding that the government pays three months salary arrears.She wondered if is because Ottih is a woman.
