Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa 


The Abia State chapter of the PDP on Friday reacted to what they described as the recurring hostile disposition of the Governor Alex Otti-led ruling Labour Party towards established institutions of democracy, notably the judiciary and the Press which are constitutionally charged to protect Nigeria's nascent democracy.


The Abia PDP in its reaction to the harsh  treatment meted out  to two journalists by the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa averred:  "We are even more concerned that Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa is gradually moving in concert with the Abia puppet master, Mr. Alex Otti, by descending into dictatorship instead of standing up to defend the independence of the legislature as enunciated by the framers of the principle of separation of powers.


"The last time we checked, Emmanuel Emeruwa had not lived up to his responsibility of checking the excesses of the State governor, Alex Otti, who rides roughshod over the legislature, but he tries to muscle the press into submission" 


dailyledger.com.ng reports that Hon Emeruwa sent out a journalist, Mr. Kingsley Chibuike of Enyimba TV and Radio Ltd., from a press briefing in the House of Assembly complex without any explanation. The journalist is properly accredited to cover proceedings of the Abia legislature.


The PDP, in a statement signed by Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary urged  Abians "to rise in defence of our democracy, and they must never forget the saying that “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance." It is very instructive and demands action at this moment"


The opposition party argued that "...the recurring hostile disposition of the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa, towards established institutions of democracy, especially the judiciary, and journalists, who are members of the fourth estate of the realm and the real watchdogs whose responsibility is to protect our democracy..." from vultures masquerading as saviours send a worrisome signal to all.


It further argued that such despotic modus operandi "...has become typical of the operatives of the Alex Otti administration who do not hide their fancy and admiration for notorious dictator Adolf Hitler, whom they quote at will to back their actions and inactions.


"For now, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa is copying from the playbook of Alex Otti and this is quite unacceptable. 

 

"Today, Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa, in an unheard-of act in the annals of Abia’s democracy, sent out a journalist, Mr. Kingsley Chibuike of Enyimba TV and Radio Ltd., from a press briefing in the House of Assembly complex without any explanation. Information available to the Abia PDP revealed that Mr. Chibuike was asked to leave the venue of the press briefing by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Henry Madubuike, on the order of the Speaker. 

 

"The Abia PDP is truly concerned that the Speaker, who had earlier restrained journalists from asking any question relating to his refusal to inaugurate Hon. Aaron Uzodike of the PDP, member representing Aba North State constituency, seven months after the Court of Appeal restored his mandate, could go so low as to exhibit such a callous, insensitive, and dictatorial tendency of sending out a journalist from a press briefing. 

 

"Abia PDP intelligence authoritatively revealed that the actions of the Speaker are not unconnected with concerns he earlier voiced in some quarters that Enyimba TV and Radio were giving him and the state government unfavourable coverage, especially on the station’s insistence that the Speaker should provide the court injunction restraining him from swearing in Hon. Aaron Uzodike, as he claimed, and also because the media station had scored the 8th Assembly under Emmanuel Emeruwa low for passing only five bills into law in an entire year. 

 

"We are even more concerned that Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa is gradually moving in concert with the Abia puppet master, Governor Alex Otti, by descending into dictatorship instead of standing up to defend the independence of the legislature as enunciated by the framers of the principle of separation of powers.


"The last time we checked, Emmanuel Emeruwa had not lived up to his responsibility of checking the excesses of the State governor, Alex Otti, who rides roughshod over the legislature, but he tries to muscle the press into submission. 

 

"The PDP wants to inform Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa that the freedom of the press is guaranteed in the Constitution he swore an oath to protect at all times, in case he has forgotten, and that the press is the conscience of society as well as one of the strong pillars of our democracy. 

 

"Abia PDP demands that Emmanuel Emeruwa should apologise to the journalist, the organisation he represents, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, for his unruly behaviour and also warn that Abians will not sit idly by and watch him or any of the operatives of this government destroy the foundation of our democracy, which rests on the rule of law, independence of the legislature, and freedom of speech", the PDP affirmed