Following the life ban on The Sun and Vanguard Correspondents from Ebonyi State Government house by Governor Umahi and in line with laid down rules and ethics of Journalism, Ebonyi based Journalists have gregariously deserted the Governent house.
The unanimous decision to relocate from government house to NUJ Press Center along Abakaliki Enugu express way from where they will effectively discharge their Watchdog role without external interference, whatsoever was consequent on the innumerable cases of intimidation, harassment, attack and threats by Governor umahi led administration against members of the press in the state.
It was observed that negative perception Ebonyi Journalists have about Umahi is evidently borne out of the hike in media imperialism particularly the several threats on Journalists by Governor Umahi.
Famous Reporters while in a rove gathered some well meaning Ebonyians who have recently written both secret and open letters to Governor Umahi to apologize to members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm among whom was the former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ifeanyi Odoh who openly wrote to the Governor to apologize to Journalists.
In his letter, Prof. Odoh pointed out that Engr. Umahi’s exalted position as the Governor should not be a yardstick to incite the latter to display an emotion of jaded negativity on the people, hence his frequent use of derogatory words against the people whose mandates facilitated his position particularly members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm should be handle with outmost thought.
Obviously, the chance of pending declaration of nomination of Igbo presidency come 2023 is doubted and I bet him that the unresolved conclusion of Ebonyi Journalists will definitely come after him when he leaves corridors of power.
