Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, has apologized to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council for for unleashing terror on some of its members covering its (APC) gubernatorial primary election in the state.
Recall that some Journalists who covered the APC’s gubernatorial primaries on Saturday, 16, February, 2024 were beaten to a pulp at the Lushville hotel in Benin, venue of the Collation of the gubernatorial primary while their gadgets were also destroyed in the process.
Truth Live News Media equipment was not spared in the attack.
Other journalists also gave their horrible accounts and how they scampered for safety the chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe while expressing his resentment, gave the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, a 7-day ultimatum to apologize to the union over the attacks on its members or be prepared for a media war.
The chairman of the council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, while reading the directives of the national leadership of the union to his members in Benin during a press conference, said that it was a show of shame for Journalists who have the legitimate rights to cover electioneering process to be rough handled.
Comrade Alenkhe read the directives as follows “That the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council met on the directives of the national leadership and we have resolved as follows, that the NUJ, Edo State council, is fully ready to declare a media war against the All Progressives Congress if the following things are not meant.
“That APC, Edo State is expected to replace all the damaged equipment of Journalists that were covering the event, on the 17 day of February, 2024, pay medical bills of Journalists injured during the attack, apologize to the NUJ at both state and national over the attack where Journalists were being manhandled, and their equipment destroyed, where Journalists were also prevented from carrying out their legitimate duty.
“This, Edo NUJ council described as unacceptable and we condemned this act heavily.
“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, should help fish out all those who were responsible for the attack and ensure that they are prosecuted because the report says that some of them are very known as they never wore masks
“We want to request very strongly that the management of the hotel where the incident happened, should make available to us the CCTV footage of the incident and this should be made public and also help the police in doing their investigations.
“We want to also call on the management of the hotel to ensure that this footage will be used by us and also being given to the police where some of those who have carried out that act will be arrested and prosecuted.
“Lastly, we want to say that the Edo State election coming up
In September 2024 is not a do-or-die . I therefore direct all journalists to cover the news.
“We want to say other parties that want to have their Primaries should ensure adequate security in the various locations, the police, DSS, NSCDC, and other security agencies should ensure the safety of all Journalists”,
The APC, in a letter of apology sent to the leadership of the union, said they were very sorry for what some of their members did to the Journalists covering their primary and that they are willing to replace all the items destroyed and foot the medical bills of the injured.
Consequently upon the receipt of the letter, the leadership of the union summoned an emergency Congress where it was all resolved that the APC should be forgiven.
According to the chairman of the council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe “Based on this letter of apology and also a letter of commitment to replace all the damaged items, Congress has today resolved that the decision for us to boycott all APC activities in Edo State, should henceforth, be put on hold.
“We have also agreed that between now and the 16th of March, 2024 because the APC Edo State has also agreed to replace all these items on or before the 16th March, 2024.
“And after that, we will reconvene and take further steps to ensure that this issue is finally resolved but for now, I want to request all journalists in Edo State to continue to cover all APC activities both electioneering and all that has to do with the APC both state and national as long as it is of the best interest of Edo State”,