By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has barred Government House Correspondents of CrossRiverWatch, Hit FM, FAD FM and Sparkling FM from covering him and the Executive arm of Government.
The Governor’s decision which our newsroom confirmed from sources to bar them has not been known as at the time of filing this report.
For weeks now CrossRiverWatch Government House Correspondent, Efa Sunday has been removed from the Government House communication channels.
Our newsroom is contacting the Chief Press Secretary to Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita.
His response will be published when received.
Responding to the Governor’s decision, the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) Chairman, Comrade Darlington Edem said “This is against every known law guiding journalistic practice anywhere in the world. We must rise in unity against such dictatorial tendency.”
On his part, the Managing Editor of CrossRiverWatch who doubles as Secretary of ACROJ, Comrade Archibong Jeremiah said “For now we haven’t heard from him officially but this is too archaic for modern day society. It’s against the fundamentals of democracy, we will remain committed to our duty as watchdog of the society.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Government Mr. Christian Ita has release a statement titled “Ayade Remains Media Friendly.”
The release in full, “The attention of Cross River State Government has been drawn to a publication circulating in the social media alleging a ban on some media organisations from covering activities of Governor Ben Ayade.
“The publication is intended to misinform the public. For the avoidance any doubt, no media organisation is barred from covering activities of the Governor.
“The internal memo from which the publication anchored the blatant lie was meant to manage movement of the Government House Press Crew in the face of temporary transportation challenges.
“There is no where in the memo where any media house or journalist was pronounced banned.
“Governor Ayade remains the most accessible and media- friendly governor.
In the last four years, he has at every juncture demonstrated this. He therefore has no plans to jettison this aspect of his nature.
“Signed: Christian Ita, Chief Press Secretary to Governor.”
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