.Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has debunked claims that he ordered the arrest of Nelson Omonu, who works for Summit Post Newspaper.
In a statement by his Director General Media, Abdu Labaran, Governor Masari said for the avoidance of doubt and the purpose of putting the record straight, he or any official of Katsina State government, has not ordered for the arrest or detention of any journalist, in Abuja or anywhere else.
The statement added that, journalists working in Katsina State, and even a number of them working in other parts of the country, notably the Federal Capital Territory, will without prompting attest to the fact that Governor Masari is one of the most media friendly public officials in Nigeria.
Labaran also faulted what he termed, the reckless press statement by the leadership of FCT Council of the NUJ which has exposed the bankruptcy of journalistic ethics among some members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm in the country.
The Governor’s aide also faulted the reactions of the FCT NUJ leadership saying, the action was planned and a calculated attempt to bring down the Governor.
According to the statement, it is not wrong to suspect a hatchet job executed for a handsome reward, paid by a shadowy puppeteer who pulls the strings behind the scene.
Labaran further advised the FCT NUJ leadership to investigate the matter thoroughly saying, ” We cannot teach members of the FCT NUJ council how to go about keeping the wolves away from their door, but they would do well, VERY, as a matter of fact, to make sure of their fact before rushing to put pen on paper, making laughable allegations in obeisance to their paymasters. Such actions, which have nothing to do with purity of purpose, have a way they easily boomerang”.
