The PDP Candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Hon Barr Uche Onyeagucha, has condemned in totality the recent alleged invasion of the Owerri residence of Oziza Radio broadcaster, Mr. Chinomso Uba (Nonso Nkwa) by armed security operatives under the instruction of the State Government.
Reacting to the development, Hon Barr Uche Onyeagucha, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince MacDonald Enwere, said, “It is indeed, saddening that few days after Governor Hope Uzodimma prevailed on the National Broadcasting Commission to shutdown the Catholic owned radio station in the state, Oziza 96.1 FM, for exposing the recent carnage at Otulu in Awomamma, Government has not relented in its plans to crackdown on journalists and media houses in the state”.
“Governor Uzodimma’s high-handedness and arbitrary use of naked power to suffocate press freedom and strangulate democratic voices in the state is alarming, reprehensible and highly condemnable.”
“We are particularly dismayed at the frequency at which Journalists in the state are being harassed, intimidated and abused by the Government of Hope Uzodimma. If any Journalist indulges in any act considered to be against the ethics of the profession, the Government should resort to legitimate course of action rather than use of brute force. Imo State under Governor Uzodimma is turning into a Banana Republic, where democratic principles and rule of law are grossly negated with blatant impunity.”
“No journalist in the state should be harassed, intimidated or threatened on the course of discharging his responsibility. We are calling on all journalists in the state, civil society organisations and other well meaning Imolites to rise against the progression of despotism and totalitarianism in our dear state.”