Secret Reporters No place to hide
The Management and staff of THE SERMON Newspapers wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the assassination attempt, continuous harassment and intimidation on the lives of the Publisher, Editors and some of the Reporters of THE SERMON NEWSPAPERS by an agent of the government of Chief Godswill Akpabio, because of a story that appeared as banner headline of its Monday edition titled , “COURT INJUNCTION: JUDGE, SECURITY LOCK OUT GOVERNOR AKPABIO WITH N5BILLION IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRIBE FOR VACATION OF INJUNCTION.”
We wish to state that the said story was not our reporter’s imagination, but a reality and factual as it was revealed by a government agent and had since exposed an administration that is run with impunity and victimisation of its citizens despite much cry for fair and just democracy.
What bothers us as Watchdog of the society is the assassination attempt and continuous intimidation, harassment and threats to life of the Publisher and staff of the newspaper firm.
However, we will not persevere much on the ill-treatments of our staff as the public are aware of the despotic and inhuman characteristic of this the present government when it comes to press freedom in Akwa Ibom State.
We learnt the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Pastor Anietie John Ukpe, and allies have concluded plans to assassinate or possibly order for the arrest of our Publisher and some of our reporters by the Security Agents, should their other evil plans failed.
We are perturbed that the said Anietie Ukpe, who is the Chief Press secretary to the Governor could go this far to assassinate his fellow colleagues who dare to expose the evil maneuvers of the government.
Anietie John Ukpe should not forget in a hurry that as a staff of NATIONAL CONCORD Newspaper then, he caused the dissolution of State Executive Council twice without anybody seeking for his assassination or possible arrest him for interrogation .
This same Senior pastor of Insight Bible Church wants his colleagues dead for opposing the victimisation of Akwa Ibom People by his Boss, (the governor).
It’s no longer news that the present government headed by Chief Godswill Akpabio has continued to oppress Journalists and some media houses who are opposed to his inhuman policies, programmes and actions which at times breach the rights and privileges of the citizens.
THE SERMON will not be intimidated, but will continue to feed the general public with undiluted truth, while also pledging to divulge evil deeds of the government as well as the happenings in our immediate environment.
It is worrisome that the government has done little or nothing to mitigate the damage done by its previous acts adjudged to be unconstitutional, yet, every government that seeks legitimacy must exude a certain level of humanity even in violation.
We find the plots by this public servant; the Chief press secretary to the Governor, as spurious and puerile and not worthy of response.
We believe, Otuekong Bonny Nyong and some of our staff about whom this Gestapo operation are directed to, have constitutional rights of and deserves all the respect and privileges befitting their profession.
It is bad enough that the security agents have abandoned it duties of providing security to the citizens and are now involve in unlawful intimidation and harassment of law abiding citizens who are performing their constitutional duties.
While we await the next scene after this messy attempt to bully our communication outfit, we find it necessary to quote a popular Chinese proverb: “Those who seek vengeance must dig two graves”.
We similarly find it urgent and necessary to warn that we cannot continue like this. We make bold to state categorically that, THE SERMON , shall resist with every lawful means available within its reach any further attempt to put in jeopardy rights and privileges of her staff.
Signed:
Ime Silas Ekpenyong
Editor in Chief
