MEDIA ALERT
> THE SOURCE: DAILY TIMES NEWSPAPER. JULY 17, 2002.(JOURNALISTS THE
ENDANGERED
> SPECIES)
>
> GOVERNOR'S AGENTS TERRORISE JOURNALISTS
>
> Happenings in the present and recent past in Enugu State Of Nigeria have
> shown the hostility of the incumbent governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, towards
> fair and objective news reporting by journalists posted to his state. His
> reactions have been characterised by incessant assault and deportation of
> journalists from his state.
>
> At the last count, seven journalists have been deported from Enugu state
> because of their stories which the governor found offensive. Five are
> currently sleeping with their two eyes wide open for fear of the unknown.
> Among the journalists who have been exiled from Enugu are Psaro Yarnamue
> formerly of the Punch Newspapers who was openly told he would not last in
> Enugu state till the end of 1999, barely few months after the government
> came to power. Others included Cyril Mbah of Hallmark Newspapers, Uche
> Ajah, Source Magazine, and Stephen Iyolo of Monitor newspaper. The trio
> were severely beaten up for daring to write about the September 9, 1999
> workers demonstration when Nnamani sacked over 5,000 workers. On January
20,
> 2002, Uba Aham, formerly of the Abia State owned Ambassador newspapers
(now
> with The News Magazine), was recalled from Enugu following Governor
> Nnamani's complaint to his Abia State counterpart, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu
> over the Reporter's unfavourable stories.
>
> Another victim of the governor's ill-treatment of journalists is Geoffrey
> Anyanwu of Champion Newspapers who was exiled to Awka, Anambra State
> following a story on the booing of Governor Nnamani at a function,
including
> a story on his alleged complicity in the killing of one Sunday Ugwu.
> ThisDay's Joe Obi also ran foul of Nnamani's journalism rules and earned
> himself an exile to Asaba, Delta State following an intense pressure on
the
> publishers of the newspaper by the governor.
>
> Tell Magazine's former Correspondent in Enugu, Uche Maduemesi was given a
> beaten of his life at a public function in January 2000. The most recent
> exiles are Vanguard Newspaper's Emeka Mamah who is now chilling out at
Awka
> (the Siberia of Enugu journalists). Also Daily Times after six months of
> intense pressure from Nnamani to remove their correspondent, Acho
Ugochukwu
> yielded following a veiled threat that the Reporter's safety was no longer
> guaranteed. The same fate befell National Interest Newspaper's Abuchi
> Anueyiagu who is now serving his sentence in Umuahia, Abia State.
>
> Some other independent minded journalists now live in fear, and have thus
> adopted a guerrilla-sleeping pattern, wherein they sleep here today and
> sleep there tomorrow to evade being tracked down by the dreaded government
> agents.
>
> It is urgent that letters be faxed or sent to the President of Nigeria,
and
> the Minister of Information and National Orientation to persuade the Enugu
> State government to desist from such despotic acts, especially since we
are
> in a democratic dispensation. Letters should also be sent to the Enugu
State
> Governor.
>
> These letters can be forwarded through the following addresses:
>
> The Presidency
> Aso Rock Villa,
> Asokoro Disrict, Abuja, Nigeria.
> Fax: 234-09-2343662, 5234080
>
> The Honourable Minister of Information.
> Prof. Jerry Gana.
> Radio House,
> Herbert Macaulay (South),
> Garki Area 10,
> P.M.B. 247, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
> Fax: 234-09-2344106
>
> The Executive Governor
> Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani,
> Lion Building Complex
> Government House,
> Independence Layout, Enugu, Nigeria.
> Fax: 243-042-459844
>
> **The information contained in this autolist item is the sole
responsibility
> of IJC**
>