Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reacted to reports alleging that journalists from Channels Television were barred from the state Government House following the circulation of a video where he confirmed his intent to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The incident led to the reassignment of Channels TV correspondent Chris Moffat and cameraman Kufre Ikpe shortly after the station aired footage of Governor Eno purportedly urging members of the State Executive Council to defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign.
Reports claim the video, which drew national attention, angered the governor and led to speculation that he ordered the exclusion of the Channels TV journalists from the seat of government.
However, during the commissioning of several projects in his native Nsit Ubium on Monday, Governor Eno dismissed the allegations, stressing his administration’s commitment to press freedom.
“I hear there’s been some issues these days around us having problems with Channels or any media house. I say fa fa fa fa, God forbid. I cannot have problem with the media at all. It’s not possible,” the governor stated.
He went on to clarify that changes in media personnel within Government House are routine and fall under the purview of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), not the governor.
“People used to say when you are angry with the river, how will you cross back home? So we cannot. I think it’s within the purview of the Chief Press Secretary to change correspondence within the government house. And it is a practice all over the world. If you have served at a post for up to 10 years and the Chief Press Secretary decides to ask for a replacement, that is not a fight. That is within the prerogative of his office. The governor doesn’t even have to know. So there’s no problem.”
Governor Eno also pointed out that Channels TV was present and broadcasting live at the event, an indication that no ban or hostility exists between the government and the station.
“At this afternoon, Channels is here. They are beaming us live. Does it look like we have problem with them? We work with all media houses, Arise, TVC, ADBN, all of them. And our own AKBC is also here. And very soon we are giving them a new digital office.”
“You are the fourth estate of the realm. You are the people that brings to the people what we are doing and where you have to criticize you are the same people that will do it. But please let us understand that there are things that we don’t have to magnify. If it is like posting or transferring a staff from one department to another, there are things we don’t give attention to. My job is very a very serious job so I don’t know which correspondence they move from one location to another but we know that we have deep respect for all our media houses and they are doing well. They will continue — we will continue — to work with them as much as possible so please let that impression be corrected that we are media friendly and will continue to be so,” he added.
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