Abia Media Online Publishers, comprising online media practitioners in Abia State, has condemned in its entirety, the attack on her member and inhuman treatment meted to Mr Ikeokwu Ogbonnaya by one Iheanacho Udensi, a People’s Democratic Party Councillor, from Amaekpu Item, in Bende LGA of the State during the Friday, December 18, 2020, Local Government Election.

In a release issued  in Umuahia,  signed by the Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo and the Secretary of the Association, Izuchukwu Nwokoma, the Association stated that harassment of  journalists in Abia State has become a recurring decimal, stressing that such will not tolerate forthwith.

Abia Online Media Publishers wondered why her member, Ikeokwu Ogbonnaya who was monitoring the LG election and interviewing voters awaiting arrival of electoral materials and adhoc staff of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) at Amaekpu Item around 1:15 pm, was attacked by Udensi in company of over ten young men.

One wonders why an aspirant who wants and expects a free and fair election will attack journalists.

The Association therefore seeks  unreserved apology letter from Iheanacho Udensi, tendering apologies to Mr  Ikeokwu Ogbonnaya as a individual,  Abia Online Media Practitioners, and  Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ associations which  Ogbonnaya belongs to

It will be recalled that Ogbonnaya reported  that Udensi whom he showed his identify as a journalist known, went on to slap him and take away his reporting equipment including phones, for speaking with a member of another party at the polling agent.


Like an attack dog, Udensi uncontrollably harassed the journalist without any provocation  and without any evidence of acts of unprofessionalism or breach of law by Ogbonnaya.


Going forward, Abia Online Media Practitioners, frown at the crude and toutish behaviour  of Udensi who threw caution to thw wind and  infringed on Ogbonnaya’s human rights


Abia Online Media Practitioners wishes  to remind Udensi whose actions portray as morally bankrupt politician  that journalists are the only professionals the Nigerian Constitution  gave the responsibility of holding governments accountable to the people.

   “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times, be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and highlight the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.(Chapter Two, Article 22 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) 

Hinging our stand on this Constitutional provision, Abia Online Media Practitioners makes it clear that anyone that attacks any of her members in person or  under the guise of a group, is not just attacking an individual, but Nigeria’s Constitution and indeed the progress of our society and humanity in general.

Abia Online Media Practitioners wish to use this medium to warn anyone, groups who may want to assault her member in the future, to desist from such an abberration.

Hitherto, the Association is calling upon the bully (Udensi), to meet the demands of this noble  Association by tendering a letter of apology to Ogbonnaya which will be published in National dailies and blogs in Abia State or have the Association to contend with. 

The body reiterates that it will not treat this attack on one of their own with kid gloves, adding that it is poised to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion in order to ensure there will not be a repeat of such inhumane and anti-people action in Abia or anywhere in Nigeria forthwith.


CC.

The Commissioner of Police, Abia state

The chairman, People's Democratic Party Abia state 

The chairman, People's Democratic party Bende LG chapter

The state coordinator Liberty International Abia state chapter.