Categories: News

APC Used Nigeria Media To Bring Down Jonathan Govt – Wike

Gov. Nyesom Wike

Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the Nigeria press has become a toothless dog under the current administration as the media could not muster the temerity to castigate the president Muhammadu Buhari government despite its failings and incompetence as they attacked the Goodluck Jonathan government.

The governor spoke when he received the Board of Editors of Independent Newspapers Limited, led by the company’s Managing Director and Editor- in -chief, Steve Omanufeme, at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

He berated the media for deviating from the core objectives of the media, saying they had lost their strength of voice to speak truth to authority with vehemence as they did during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He opined that the Jonathan was heavily criticised because he’s from a minority ethnic group, wondering why the same treatment has not been meted to Buhari despite the dispiriting and unsettling state of the nation.

“As regards this country, we are where we are because of you (journalists). In 2014, you were bought over to pull down the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I had told the Trade Union Congress (TUC) the other day, and asked then where are you that you see things in Nigeria getting worse; insecurity, increase in price of everything and you say nothing.

“Now, you’ll not pull down Nigeria again because it is not a minority man that is in power. Where is the voice of the people? Where is the voice of the journalists? Have your mouth be sealed up, dumped and you can’t talk again?

“Is it because you’ve seen power greater than you? When Jonathan was in power, he respected fundamental human rights. He allowed freedom of speech.

“Nobody would be arrested but now, you can’t talk because of fear that you’ll be arrested. That’s the situation we found ourselves. So, when I see journalists these days, I’m just shy. But you owe this country a lot.”