Nigerian press has been gagged, says Wike

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has alleged that the press in Nigeria has been gagged and he called on the Nigerian press to wake up and defend Nigerians suffering untold hardship under the failed All Progressives congress (APC) led Federal Government.

He stated this during the visit of the management of the International Press Institute to the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday. Wike said that the same press that joined some prominent Nigerians to fight the partial removal of petroleum subsidy under former President, Goodluck Jonathan has maintained deafening silence under President Buhari when the entire fuel subsidy was removed in controversial circumstances. He explained that despite the controversies and inconsistencies that have trailed the alleged total removal of fuel subsidy, there are no calls for #OccupyNigeria in the media.

He said that the APC-led government is poised to use illegal means to manipulate the electoral process, hence the fight over election sequence in the amended Electoral Act. According to him, the Police High Command had rewarded Akin Fakorede, who was indicted by the INEC Committee on Rivers rerun election, for massive electoral fraud.

The leader of International Press Institute Media and Publicity Committee, Tonnie Iredia said that the committee was in the state to create awareness on the 2018 World Congress to be hosted in Nigeria. He said the event offers Nigeria the opportunity to launder her image as well as give international journalists the opportunity to appreciate development efforts in the country.