Ajimobi bars newsmen from Governor’s office press centre

GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi

GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi yesterday showed his contempt for journalism practice as he barred journalists from gaining entry into the popular press centre of the Governor’s office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Presently, only newsmen from the Oyo State Broadcasting Corporation and few others, who cover the state are granted access into the centre, which has been there for ages.

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This came about two weeks after the governor ignored some journalists, who asked him questions about his inability to pay workers of the state in Abuja.

The rumour about the incident was peddled a fortnight ago, but just yesterday, a list of the select few has been pasted on the door of the press centre.

Just some months ago, journalists were barred from driving their vehicles into the premises of the expansive office.

When the newsmen got to the press centre for coverage of events yesterday which is a normal practice, a list entitled ‘accredited and unaccredited’ of the preferred journalists had been pasted on the door.

The list marked SEC 513/T/151 and dated July 27, 2015 was signed by one Mr. Segun Abolarinwa who described himself as the Special Adviser on Security. The list emanated from the Cabinet and Special Services Department.

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The list of the accredited include BCOS, Ministry of Information, NTA, Galaxy, Channels, TVC, FRCN, Amuludun, Splash, Nigerian Tribune and Odua News.

Among the names pasted was a driver attached to one of the vehicles in the governor’s office.

The list of the unaccredited media houses includes OGTV, AIT, Parrot, Daily Times and many others.

Newspapers like the Punch, Vanguard, Daily Sun, Daily Independent and Nation are nowhere to be found on the list.

Reacting on behalf of the governor, Mr. Olawale Sadare, the State Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, said the action would only affect those who “hibernate’ and those with no specific media houses.”

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