By Joseph Edegbo
The Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF, has commended the Kaduna State Governor in Northwest Nigeria, Sen. Uba Sani for promptly standing up for a TV Cameraman from an overzealous policeman attached to Govt House.
A statement jointly signed by the AMDF’s Manager Press Freedom, Zhiroh Jatau and the Executive Director, Sekyen Dadik, said the immediate reaction of the Governor who expressed displeasure to the overzealousness of the policeman was not only commendable but would prevent further occurrences
This positive development, AMDF notes,
” is a departure from the experiences of 2015/2016, where the action of Kaduna State against the media contributed greatly to pulling Nigeria down by about four steps on the CPJ’s press freedom tracker”.
The Statement read:-
Our attention has been drawn to the prompt response of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Nigeria, in standing up for Luper Asom of TV Continental, from policemen attached to the Government House.
Our investigation revealed that the Policemen acted over-zealously when the journalist was carrying out his legitimate journalism duty in the Government House, an act the governor addressed immediately and expressed his displeasure.
As an organization that supports Press Freedom as a fundamental principle of democracy, Africa Media Development Foundation, (AMDF) recognizes Governor Sani’s quick intervention and steps taken to address further occurrences.
This is a departure from the experiences of 2015/2016, where the action of Kaduna State against the media contributed greatly to pulling Nigeria down by about four steps on the CPJ’s press freedom tracker.
AMDF recognizes the role of the press and advocates for its freedom as a step towards a developed and free society.
We therefore call on authorities in Africa to protect Journalists and provide them with the necessary protection to carry out their work.
We emphasize that intimidation, threats, and unwarranted arrests are not solutions to issues authorities have against journalists, it concludes.