Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, has denied allegations of expelling a journalist from a press briefing, calling the reports false and unfounded. He emphasized his support for media freedom and urged the public to disregard the claims.
Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, has firmly denied allegations that he expelled a journalist from a recent press briefing at the conference hall of the state Assembly in Umuahia.
The controversy began when Enyimba FM alleged that Speaker Emeruwa directed the expulsion of their staff member, Kingsley Chibuike, from the press briefing. The radio station’s report suggested that the speaker’s actions were intended to create disaffection between the office of the speaker and journalists in the state.
In response, Speaker Emeruwa issued a statement titled, “Re: Expulsion of Enyimba FM journalist from press briefing in the Abia State House of Assembly,” where he described the report as false and unfounded. He urged the public to disregard the allegations and emphasized his respect for the constitutional role of journalists in a democracy.
“My attention has been drawn to the reports making the rounds that I, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, expelled a journalist from Enyimba FM, from a press briefing at the conference hall of the state Assembly,” Emeruwa stated.
He continued, “For the record, I’m a friend of the media. I have personal relationships with many journalists in the state, most of whom have direct access to me.”
Emeruwa explained that journalists from various media organizations were invited to the press briefing to discuss the establishment of the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission by Governor Alex Otti, among other important matters. He assured that all journalists were seated before his arrival with the Deputy Speaker and other Assembly officials.
“I never expelled any journalist from the press briefing or ordered journalists not to ask questions on any issue,” Emeruwa asserted.
The speaker emphasized his understanding of the media’s constitutional role, stating, “As a speaker who knows the constitutional role of the media in a democracy, I have no reason to expel or discriminate against any journalist, no matter his or her position about my stewardship.”
Concluding his statement, Emeruwa urged the public to disregard the false report, labeling it as an attempt to create disaffection between his office and journalists in the state.
