Kwakwanso Threatens To Sting Journalists Over Reports
KANO, August 10, (THEWILL) - Kano state Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has issued a stern warning to all practicing journalist in the state saying that his administration will not tolerate what he described as ‘bad press’ from working journalists in the state.
Kwankwaso who spoke to a group of journalists inside his office on Tuesday, while reacting to a report on the state government’s Ramadan feeding programme recently published by Peoples Daily, one of the local national dailies, threatened to react to any “negative” report published against his administration henceforth. He frowned at the publication, saying that his government will accept only constructive criticisms based on objective reporting, adding that it would not condone what he described as “irresponsible write up.”
Speaking on top of his voice and sounding comical too, Mr. Kwankwaso linked the newspaper report to a snake attack that will leave him with no option to defend himself with equal venom.
Kwankwaso who stood up to drive home his point demonstrated the meandering nature of the snake with his hand and landed a bite in the air for maximum effect.
He reminded working Journalists of their responsibility on objective reporting pointing out that they should not allow themselves to be used by politicians.
Kwankwaso directed his media aide to register his anger and his position in writing to the leadership of the chapel and demanded a response.
But in a swift reaction to the Governor’s outburst, the Kano state correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) noted with great concern the outburst of the Governor coated with ‘naked threat and intimidation’ saying it could destroy the existing cordial relationship between the chapel and the new government.
The Chapel’s statement signed by the Acting Chairman Jacob Adeola Ajakaiye said that government reserves the right to respond to any publication that it deems to be in bad taste through a rejoinder.
“Judging by the wealth of experience of His Excellency, we expected him to refrain from verbal threat, and intimidation, in the interest of his good office,” the statement stated.
The chapel stressed that reporters as professionals have the constitutional responsibility to report news in the state irrespective of whose ox is gored.