Metro
Abia Speaker, Emeruwa Under Fire Over Alleged Humiliation Of Journalist

Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, has come under fire for allegedly walking out a journalist, Kingsley Chibuike from a press briefing without any explanation.
The press conference held Thursday at the conference hall of the Abia State House of Assembly, had in attendance the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Austin Nmeregini, among others.
Reacting to the sad development, former Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kanu, said such a behaviour should not be condoned.
The former Speaker who described the role of the media as very crucial for the survival of democracy, said no attempt should be made to obstruct their operations.
He said: “When I was speaker, the chamber was always filled to the brim. When you are a presiding officer, not only that your colleagues are assessing your capacity or capability to manage the House, the press is also involved in assessing whatever is happening at the plenary.
READ ALSO: Southern Govs Plan 90,000MW Power, Want States To Negotiate New Minimum Wage
“The press is a very important segment of the society. Other commoners are always in the chamber to listen to the proceedings of the House.
” If a journalist is doing his job and he is barred from covering the House, I don’t think it will be condoned.”
In his own reaction, former Secretary to State Government, SSG and a veteran journalist, Elder Ralph Egbu, strongly condemned the action of the Speaker, and wondered why journalists would not boycott the activities of the House in protest.
He blamed media practitioners for their weakness in fighting their own cause, recalling that such a humiliation would not go without a consequence in his active days.
“When people know you are critical they don’t toy with you”.
Apparently referring to leadership weakness of media practitioners in the state, the elder statesman and former Information Commissioner, regretted that the Speaker might get away with the action.
“When there is a vacuum, people will exploit it. But when people know there is a consequence they will be cautious.
“Boycott that House or start writing deliberately, and they will respect you. But you will not do it. When I was practising, they feared us”.
READ ALSO: Moment Protester Breaks Into UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Garden, Poops In His Duck Pond
Reacting also, former Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, described the action of the Speaker as dictatorial and an attempt to gag the press.
The former Commissioner who also described the incident as “a new low” in the state, said the action of the Speaker contrasted the humility of the Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on whose wings the Speaker and other Labour Party members came to power.
“The quest to silence free press and muzzle opposition by all means are the hallmarks of dictators empowered by Emperors and it is a big shame that Emeruwa was elected on the ticket of the Labour Party seen by many as a progressive political party.
READ: Ex-Honduras President Jailed For 45 Years On Drugs Charges
“I wish to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leaders of the National Assembly and civil society organizations led by the free press to speak up now and stop the emerging autocracy in Abia State.
The former Commissioner called on the Speaker to tender unreserved apology to the media, and to immediately bring back the Enyimba Correspondent.
“I hereby call on Speaker Emeruwa to, as a matter of urgency, immediately apologize and recall Enyimba TV and Radio journalist to the people’s House and inaugurate Aaron Uzodike at the next legislative date.
“Abia State is not an Empire for an Emperor and his ‘hallelujah officials’ but rather a democratic state under the rule of law with full observance of media freedom and independence.”
He also called on civil society organization to rise against any attempt to intimidate and gag the press.
Reacting also, Rights Activist and the Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, Comrade Nnanna Nwafor, described the action as a manifestation of dictatorship tendency.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Governors Meet, As Minimum Wage, LG Autonomy Top Agenda
He said it was a display of the Speaker’s lack of regard for the media, a action, he said, was unacceptable.
“It’s unfortunate and the Speaker has played the role of dictatorship. It shows the Speaker has no respect for the press.
“It’s an impairment of the freedom of the press and expression. It doesn’t show that the Speaker believes in democratic principles. This is highly unacceptable.”
A prominent layer and Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Mike Ndu, in his own reaction, described the action of the Speaker as undemocratic.
He said that a public officer holder especially the number three citizen should be able to put his temperament under check.
“It’s quite undemocratic. It’s against the freedom of press. In as much as he has not violated any laws, he has violated the principles of democracy. It’s condemnable.
” As the number three man in the state who is representing a people, he ought not to have behaved that way as a public officer. The House of Assembly is not a private office”.
Metro
16-year-old Killed As NDLEA Operatives, Drug Barons Clash In Edo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, and drug barons reportedly clashed at Okpuje, Uzeba community in Owan West Local Government Area, leading to the death of a 16 -years -old boy, identified as Emmanuel Monday George.
Two others identified as God’spower Omage (20 years) and Ajayi Irobia (54 years), were said to have sustained serious injuries during the gun duel which reportedly happened on Monday.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday.
READ ALSO:NDLEA Unveils Digital Platform For Drug Integrity Test, Visa Clearance Certificate
Ofoyeju said that one of its officers sustained an injury after being struck on the hand with a sharp object.
Recall that Army and NDLEA officers were recently attacked by drug barons in the agrarian community, notable for cannabis cultivation.
Metro
JUST IN: Fire Guts Store At Abuja Mall

A fire incident occurred at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja in the early hours of Thursday.
The cause of the fire, which started around 3am, could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
It was gathered that only the Adidas Sports shop was affected.
It was further gathered that firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, the Berger Fire Department, and the FCT Fire Service, as well as police officers, were deployed to the scene.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Jailed In US Over $6m Inheritance Fraud
A resident of Jabi, Saliu, who informed our correspondent of the incident, said the fire had been contained.
He said, “Around 3am., this morning, there was a fire incident at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja. No loss of life or injury was recorded. Only the Adidas Sports shop was affected by the fire.”
The FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH.
Adeh said police officers were deployed to the location to secure the area and prevent looting.
“We received a distress call at about 3:40 a.m. We immediately deployed our men there to secure the place and prevent any breach of public order,” she said.
Metro
JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.
According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.
Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.
According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.
READ ALSO:Deputy Gov Pledges Support For Edo Queens
News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.
According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.
Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.
He was yet to do so as at press time.
   Politics5 days ago Politics5 days ago- PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention 
   News3 days ago News3 days ago- Six Countries With Highest Number Of Billionaires In 2025 
   News2 days ago News2 days ago- Edo Gives Ex-deputy Gov One Week To Return State Assets 
   News5 days ago News5 days ago- Why Sowore Was Taken To Prison After Bail – Police 
   News5 days ago News5 days ago- FIFA’s Use Of Kebbi Stadium In Banner Sparks Outrage, Funding Row 
   News2 days ago News2 days ago- Anambra, Lagos, Others Top 2025 Fiscal Performance Rankings, As C’Rivers Dropped from 5th to 30th 
   Metro5 days ago Metro5 days ago- 50 Arrested For Violating Environmental Sanitation Laws In Edo 
   News4 days ago News4 days ago- Ex-soldiers Fume Over Lifetime Benefits For Sacked Service Chiefs 
   Metro5 days ago Metro5 days ago- Police Arrest Lovers, Others For Murder, Robbery In Sokoto 
   News1 day ago News1 day ago- JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail 


 
									
 
									
 
									
 
									
 
									
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										
 
										