The government of President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday exhibited a fascist temperament as the Chief Security Officer to President Buhari, Bashir Abubakar expelled Punch’s correspondent in Aso Rock Villa, Mr Lekan Adetayo, over a report on the president’s ill-health.
Abubakar had earlier summoned Adetayo to his office and questioned him on two reports he deemed uncomplimentary of Buhari and his administration, the Punch reports.
He referred to the lead story of Sunday Punch 23 April 2017, titled “Fresh anxiety in Aso Rock over Buhari’s poor health” and unlawfully interrogated him over the motive behind it.
Eventually, after acting as the accuser and judge and putting Adetayo through such a humiliation, Abubakar directed the Officer in Charge, Department of State Services, Victor Nwafor, to withdraw the correspondent’s accreditation tag and lead him out of the premises after he retrieved his personal belongings from the Press Gallery of the Council Chambers.
It is understood that Nwafor left a standing instruction at the Admin Reception that Adetayo should no longer be allowed into the premises after which he handed him over to another security operative who led the reporter to where his car was parked.
The security operative saw to it that Adetayo left the premises as ordered.
However, the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, reacting to the development, tweeted that the CSO acted without consulting the Presidency’s spokespersons.
In a series of tweets, Adesina disassociated his office and the Presidency from the matter, saying that Mr. Buhari is for press freedom.
He had tweeted, “We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom.
“An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.”
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