How The PDP Started The War Against The Media

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh

By Saharareporters, New York

The ongoing war against the Nigerian media did not start by President Goodluck Jonathan after all. His political party, the Peoples Democratic Party started it, such is the view of political insiders familiar with the workings of government in Abuja.
Investigations by our reporter at the party's headquarters in Abuja found that the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has said that he will not tolerate, nor does he want, “any negative reports (in the media) when he assumed office.”
He said this at the maiden meeting he had with the reporters covering the national beat when he assumed office. Awkwardly, and off the record among those who cover national politics, many had said that it is a request the journalists said they can't guarantee.
Shortly afterwards, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, had barred the PUNCH correspondent from covering the activities of the party because of the reporter's critical reports.
He also did the same to the reporter of the BluePrint newspaper few days ago. Many in the media believe it was because the reporter had detailed in his reports, the disagreements among the members of the party's National Working Committee.
Before these two incidents, Metuh had during the reign of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had also barred a THISDAY reporter from covering the party because the reporter did a story that he (Metuh) didn't like.
The intervention of some people, including advisors and others close to the media, saved what would have become an embarrassing situation for the party, and its leadership.
Metuh is said to be “desperate” to impose his lackeys on the reporters as their leader, with the hope of using him to spy on the reporters, and the stories they file at the end of each assignment.