By Patrick Obia
Listen To The Report
No fewer than fifteen (15) journalists in Cross River State were on Thursday, May 5, 2022, harassed and chased out of the venue of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s consultation visit to Cross River.
This is happening two days after the World Press Freedom Day celebration aimed at protecting the journalists in the line of duty.
The tactics began when a huge-dark skin man believed to be one of the anchors of the event picked up the microphone and said harshly: “if you’re a journalist; whether from the print or electronic media, take your leave, the Vice President will talk to you outside, excuse us and stay outside. It is strictly a private meeting with the Vice President,” he said, adding “I will make sure he talks to you when he is done.”
The journalists present moved out of the hall to the reception of the hotel hoping to ambush the VP for an interview, but the presidential hopeful’s security men came in their numbers, harassed and chased the men of the Fourth Estate of the Realm out of the premises.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, ordered journalists out of the building saying journalists from the State are not needed because the Vice President came with his entourage from the State House Press Corps, Abuja.
The scene which played out at 2:02pm, brought about mixed reactions among journalists and members of the party- APC who were refused entrance.
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