I wasn’t a journalist as Jonathan’s spokesperson – Abati

A former Special Adviser on Media to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said many journalists failed to appreciate the delicate and sensitive nature of his job, as they pestered him to react to some national issues while he held the post.

Dr Reuben Abati

He said this on Monday in Abeokuta on the sideline of the 2015 annual lecture of the Ogun State Correspondents’ chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Abati, who had earlier spoken on the theme, ‘Media and Economic Renaissance,’ said some journalists covering the State House did complain that he would not pick their calls whenever they wanted to get his reactions.

He noted that some of them failed to realise that he was a government spokesman and not a ‘journalist’ at that point in time, as they still expected his scathing criticisms and personal conviction.

He said, “Once you are in government, you are no more a journalist. It’s just like a royal court, the king does not go out there, he sends someone to deliver his message to the people. You are an agent to a principal.

“The job of a government spokesman is delicate and sensitive. If you are a careless spokesperson, you will blow up a country. It is not everything that a hunter sees in the bush that he talks about.

“But my colleagues, the journalists, still wanted me to talk as Abati, the columnist or Abati as a panelist in Patito’s Gang. Loquacity is not an asset when you are a government spokesman.”

Dwelling on the topic of the lecture, Abati called on media owners and journalists to be abreast of the economic policies of government, since such policies would affect them and their organisations.

He said, “We must prioritise issues of economic diversification. We must be interested in economic policies, we must acquire the skills to interrogate and analyse economic policies and we must interrogate people at the helm of affairs so that we can be crusaders of good society.”

He urged journalists to put political office holders on their toes to implement viable economic policies for national development.

Abati, who was the former chairman, The Guardian Newspaper Editorial Board, noted that most of the past economic policies put up by successive governments failed due to lack of dedication and continuity on the part of public office holders.

He bemoaned the idea of a new administration wanting to start everything afresh even when the immediate past government had some viable projects and programmes that would put the country on the path of sustainable development.

He said former President Jonathan introduced over 60 economic reforms which, he claimed, had been discarded by the incumbent administration, noting such lack of continuity in economic policies would breed socio-political instability.

He noted that the agricultural policy of the Jonathan administration dwelt on the entire value chain in that sector.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, the CEO of Rock City FM and a former Commissioner for Information in Ogun State, Mr. Niran Malaolu, advised journalists to stop ‘crucifying’ their colleagues when they were appointed as commissioners, advisers, or senior special assistants.

Rather, he said, they should support them and make them succeed.

I wasn’t a journalist as Jonathan’s spokesperson – Abati

NAN journalist kidnapped in Imo State

Media correspondents serving in Imo State, are now living in palpable fear, following the reported kidnap of the head of the reportorial team of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Miss Chidi Opara, in Owerri.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the armed hoodlums that whisked her away, either trailed her to her home or laid ambush for her.

“Miss Opara was abducted at about 8.30p.m Wednesday night, as she made to enter her house located at MCC/Uratta Road, Owerri”, one of her colleagues told Vanguard.

It was also gathered that Miss Opara was taken away in her Sports Utility Vehicle, which has not been seen at the time of going to press.

Her colleagues in the office recalled that Miss Opara fully participated in all the activities of the state branch of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, and even dropped some journalists at their destinations before heading to her residence.

Already, the leadership of the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council, have passionately appealed to her captors to unconditionally release her.

“We have brought Miss Opara’s sordid plight to the attention of state government, through the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, and we will head to the State Police Command Headquarters soon after leaving the Deputy Governor’s Lodge”, the Chapel Chairman, Mr. Athan Agbakwuru said.

It was not very clear if the hoodlums had made contact with any of her relations or friends, but there are growing fears that kidnappers are on prowl again in the state.

Efforts made to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew

 

NAN journalist kidnapped in Imo State

PDP Thugs Attack Channels TV Journalists In Ilorin

Pandemonium broke out on Saturday at Yebumot Hotel Ilorin, venue of the local government congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

PDP

The PDP delegates had converged as early as eight O’clock waiting for the commencement of the exercise when a factional Local Government Chairman of the party arrived and drew anger from the delegates who prevented him from gaining entrance.

This led to a free-for-all fight as some of the aides of the Chairman were beaten in the presence of the security operatives who only manned the gate to ensure that only the accredited delegates were allowed inside.

The effort of the Channels Television crew to record the beating further drew anger and annoyance from the PDP delegates as they pounced on both the cameraman and the reporter despite their explanations and showing of identity cards.

The nearly 50 thugs smashed the camera and tore the clothes of the crew while trying to force open the camera to remove the tape.

As the ugly incidents unfolded, the security operatives remained at the gate of the hotel just to ensure that only the accredited delegates gained entrance.

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PDP Thugs Attack Channels TV Journalists In Ilorin

World leaders urge Egypt to release Al Jazeera staff

• US President shows support for Al Jazeera staff to be freed

• Somalian President says Greste does not deserve to be in prison

• Australian PM urges Egyptian leader to release jailed trio

* Al Jazeera marks UNGA with viral campaign for #FreeAJstaff

World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have highlighted the importance of press freedom and called on Egypt to release the three jailed Al Jazeera staff.

The wrongful imprisonment of Baher Mohamed, Peter Greste and Mohammed Fahmy was raised by US President Obama in his first meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

According to the Deputy National Security advisor, Ben Rhodes, Obama reminded the Egyptian leader of his duty to human rights, including the rights to free speech and the rights of the three jailed Al Jazeera journalists. Rhodes said: “The president expressed his view that those journalists should be released.”

President Obama’s emphasis on releasing the men follows a similar meeting between Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister, and Sisi for twenty minutes. After the meeting, Abbott said: “I think he (Sisi) will do his best to be helpful.”

At UNGA, similar calls for Egypt to release the three journalists were made by the British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, who told Al Jazeera: “On the question of Al Jazeera journalists, I’ve raised this question personally with President Sisi. I raise it every time I see Foreign Minister Shoukry. The current situation is that the journalists have, as I understand it, appealed their convictions and that means this remains at the present time a judicial process. And we have to respect the separation of judicial and executive power. Once that judicial process is complete, if that sentence still stands, we would look to the executive to intervene and ensure they are released.”

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Jazeera that he’d traveled with Peter Greste and been interviewed by him. “He was a very nice guy… He was not politicized; he is a professional journo… I know he doesn’t deserve to be in prison.”

He added, “For us in Somalia, we are very much committed and believe in the independence of the media and their role in the changing world of today. We politicians are not always happy with the way journos express what they see as a reality on the ground – but even then I believe we need to be very tolerant to them.”

In a campaign to increase even further awareness of the jailing of the Al Jazeera three, an advert was placed in The New York Times and Times Square New York to remind the Egyptian leader and other officials that the three men have been arrested, detained, charged and sentenced for just doing their job of honest, free and fair reporting.

Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were convicted in June of aiding terrorism and spreading false news that portrayed Egypt as being in a state of “civil war.” In a case that sparked international outrage, Greste and Fahmy received seven-year terms, while Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years.

Since their arrest in December 2013, Al Jazeera has received international support calling for their freedom from human rights organisations, news networks and various governments.

On social media, the advert placed in The New York Times alone gave 800,000 impressions on Twitter in the first five hours.

Commenting on president Obama’s call for the release of the Al Jazeera three, Al Jazeera spokesperson Osama Saeed said: “For nine months since the arrest of Baher Mohamed, Mohammed Fahmy and Peter Greste, world opinion has stated that these men are innocent and have committed no crime, yet nearly 300 days later they still languish behind bars. Al Jazeera welcomes the direct involvement of President Obama and Prime Minister Abbott by reminding the Egyptian authorities that it is their moral duty in the name of free speech and human rights that they release our colleagues who are innocent and renowned journalists.”

Calls for the release of Al Jazeera staff have previously been made from the White House, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the European Union, the Australian Government and over 150 rights groups, including Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Press Institute.

Over 200,000 people have signed petitions globally, including two petitions signed by 150,000 people presented to the Egyptian Vice Counsel in Sydney by Australia’s leading journalists.

Over 40 of the world’s top journalists have also signed a letter demanding the release of the journalists, and media outlets across the globe have staged their own protests, including BBC, CNN, ITN, Channel 4, Fairfax Australia, Toronto Star, VRT deredactie and Iran’s Shargh Daily.

High-profile supporters include leading media personalities Larry King, Christiane Amanpour, Jon Snow, Piers Morgan, Stephen Fry, Ben Wedeman, Brian Stelter, and Alex Thompson, as well as Naomi Klein, Reza Aslan, Mia Farrow and Bianca Jagger.

Similarly public calls of support for the release of the journalists have occurred throughout the social media campaign #FreeAJStaff, with over 137,000 people who have shared their support on Twitter, reaching 112 million people, and delivering over two billion impressions.

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World leaders urge Egypt to release Al Jazeera staff

Al Jazeera estimates losses in excess of $150 million

Al Jazeera Media Network has submitted an official notification of dispute to the interim Egyptian government. The network says it is relying on a Bilateral Treaty signed between the country in which it is headquartered, Qatar, and Egypt as the basis for its decision.

Al Jazeera has estimated losses of more than $150 million. As per the Bilateral Treaty, if no amicable settlement between Al Jazeera and the Egyptian authorities has been reached within six months, Al Jazeera will take the case to international arbitration.

Al Jazeera has been subjected to a sustained campaign of harassment, intimidation and jamming of its transmission, with Egyptian security forces raiding its offices, shutting it down and confiscating its equipment in addition to attacking its reputation.

Four Al Jazeera staff members have been detained in Egyptian jails. Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Abdullah ElShamy has been detained since August 2013, while Al Jazeera English correspondent Peter Greste has been detained since December 2013 with producers Baher Mohamed and Mohammed Fahmy.

For a timeline on the intimidation campaign against Al Jazeera in Egypt, please visit Al Jazeera

 

Al Jazeera estimates losses in excess of $150 million