CLO Demands Justice Over Attacks on Journalist ‘Obenta”

Anambra chapter of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has called for investigation into the attempt on the life of a journalist with the Source Magazine, Mr Okechukwu Obenta of The Source Magazine by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Hope Democratic Party in last governorship election, Barrster Mike Okoye.

Okoye who is in the election court to contest the reelection of Mr Peter Obi had on 24th May told the Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal that unknown persons had in the early hours of the morning set fire on his Toyota land cruiser jeep. He also expressed optimism that it may not be unconnected with his contest of Obi’s reelection as he has been receiving threat messages in that regard.

Obenta, the journalist, had the next day set out to the Nsugbe Catholic Monastery venue of the incident, armed with his digital camera and other gadgets with the hope of taking shots of the burnt car when he ran into trouble.

In a press release signed by CLO, Comrade Aloysius Attah, State Chairman, said the organization is demanding for the investigation of the matter in which Obenta had accused Okoye of inciting his thugs to molest and physically assault him, while accusing him of being one of those who set his jeep ablaze.

Attah said CLO views the attack on Mr. Obenta as a dangerous dimension to the politics of desperation and ‘operation-eliminate-every obstacle–dead–or-alive’ which some politicians just introduced into the Anambra polity.

Attah added that for the alleged mastermind of this attack on Obenta to openly brand him a government paid agent and dare him to do his worst speaks volumes of the boldness of some politicians to perpetuate evil because of the climate of impunity pervading the land.

‘It is unfortunate that journalists have become endangered species in the hands of the society which they strive to make a better place by performing their legitimate duties of reporting.

‘We ask, for how long should we fold our arms and watch how journalists are treated like the dregs of the society, humiliated, assaulted and even in extreme cases killed arbitrarily for no just cause?

‘Coincidently, Mr. Obenta was nearly maimed on the very day Nigerians are celebrating 11 years of democracy in Nigeria.

‘Democracy is endangered and bastardized when the citizens and the mass media are not free to air their views, express themselves and expose the truth as guaranteed in our constitution, Attah regretted.

Culled from: Ukpakareports (but editor according to KlinReports House Style)