By Aniekan Umanah
The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Government has been drawn to a report credited to Misikilu Mojeed of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, and Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, alleging “media repression” in the State and claiming to blacklist His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D Governor of Akwa Ibom State. This allegation is false, unfounded, and completely inconsistent with the well-established facts of the State’s open and cordial relationship with the media. We are not surprised at this latest claim, given the rather known antagonistic disposition of the Premium Times towards the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The Government hereby challenges the IPI and its leadership to provide a single verifiable instance of any journalist arrested, detained, invited, intimidated, or harassed on the orders of the Governor or the Akwa Ibom State Government. We also challenge them to identify any media house that has been shut down, sanctioned, or barred from operating in the State. None exists, because no such incident has occurred under this administration.
Since assuming office, Governor Umo Eno has maintained a distinctly media-friendly and tolerant disposition. Not one journalist has been detained, harassed, or prosecuted, not for lack of inaccuracies published from time to time, but because the Governor believes in constructive engagement rather than confrontation. The Governor has also been named one of the most media-friendly governors by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (National and State), Nigeria Guild of Editors and several reputable media organizations in Nigeria and beyond.
Furthermore, no media establishment has ever been shut down or restricted from covering government activities. The media in Akwa Ibom enjoys full and unhindered access to information, events, and public officials.
For the avoidance of doubt, if the IPI’s claim is anchored on the recent routine recall of Mr. Chris Moffat (then Channels TV Correspondent) and Mr. Kufre Ikpe (Camera Operator), who covered the State for over twenty (20) years, the Institute is completely misguided. Their recall is standard administrative practice in every public and private establishment. Personnel who have served long enough in a particular location or beat are periodically rotated to allow others gain experience and improve operational efficiency. Channels TV, for instance, has replaced the journalist covering the State, and the administration continues to maintain a robust working relationship with Channels and other television stations across the country. Such routine reassignment does not amount to repression and should not be deliberately misinterpreted by any responsible institution. This, we may add, is the standard all over the world- from the White House Press Corps in Washington DC, to Downing Street, etc.
Contrary to the IPI’s allegations, the administration has taken unprecedented steps to strengthen the media community. The State Government recently donated eleven brand new vehicles to the immediate past leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, and also completed and furnished the Council’s Auditorium, which was commissioned by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, and witnessed by the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Alhassan Yahya Abdul.
Additionally, the State has appointed several journalists into strategic boards, commissions, and advisory positions. Akwa Ibom currently has 356 media and communication professionals engaged by the government—the highest number of media practitioners appointed by any State Government. This is not the profile of a government that represses the press.
It is therefore unfortunate that a representative of the International Press Institute would issue such damaging claims without investigation, evidence, or engagement with relevant stakeholders. Such carelessness underscores a clear bias against a Governor widely recognized as one of the most media -savvy in Nigeria.
The Government calls on Mr. Mojeed Misikilu to retract this misleading claim and tender a public apology to the Office of the Governor and the Government of Akwa Ibom State. Government further urges the International Press Institute to disassociate itself from the personal opinion of Mr. Misikilu.
The Akwa Ibom State Government remains fully committed to press freedom, responsible journalism, and continued collaboration with media professionals. Governor Umo Eno’s administration will sustain its culture of openness and constructive engagement.
Members of the public are advised to disregard the IPI claim of Mr. Mojeed Misikilu, as it bears no resemblance to the reality in Akwa Ibom State and is completely at odds with the administration’s pro-media credentials.
Rt. Hon. Umanah is the Commissioner for Information, Akwa Ibom State.
