Members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State government house Ikeja, to protest the constant harassment and brutality rendered on journalists in the state.
The protesting journalists from various media houses were disappointed at the fact that they didn’t meet the governor in the office, as he was reported to be in Saudi Arabia.
Some officials of the Lagos council of the NUJ, led the peaceful protest which started from Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, to the office of the governor.
Journalists had stormed the meeting venue as early as 8.am and the protest was to begin at 10.am
Singing songs of solidarity as they matched to the governor’s office, the journalists blocked the roads to avoid motorist from passing.
Getting to the governor’s office, the security personnel told them the governor was not around, the protesters insisted on seeing a representative.
After 40 minutes of waiting under the sun, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji, came to attend to the resolute journalists.
He explained that the governor was not available to attend to them as he had embarked on the Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
He however apologized for keeping them for so long and also for the ill-treatment on the two journalists Benedict Uwalaka and Tunde Ogundeyi, saying that the government could not fold its hands and watch law-abiding citizens brutalized by overzealous persons, assuring that the perpetrators would face the music.
He, however, charged the media to carry on their duties and responsibilities without fear, as he assured of government’s support to protect citizens from needless assault from any member of the society.
