Kano governor suspends journalists from government house
The Kano State Government has taken the significant step of withdrawing the accreditation of 14 journalists who were covering activities at the Government House.
This decision was communicated by Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the spokesman for the governor, through a message sent to the affected journalists. They have been instructed to return to their respective media organizations for reassignment.
The message read:
‘’Gentlemen of the press…
Permit me to use this opportunity to thank all of you for a job well done in the last one year and few months.
Unfortunately, while I was away to Republic of Serbia last week, some issues happened and the leadership need to take a decision at this critical time.
This is not by anyway end of our relationship, we will continue to work as professional colleagues at both official and personal levels.
List of Members of the Crew Due for Replacement from Govt. House’’
”List of Members of the Crew Due for Replacement from Govt. House
1. Aliyu Yusuf, Director Public Enlightenment
2. Sani Suraj Abubakar, PRO
3. Adamu Dabo, Chairman Crew-FRCN
4. Naziru Yau, ARTV
5. Sadiq Sani AA, ARTV
6. Rabiu Sunusi, Triumph
7. Umar Sheka, Freedom
8. Jabir Dan’abba, Nasara
9. Labara Sound
10. Simon AIT Cameraman
11. Nasiru Danhaki, NTA
12. Abdullahi Sule, Driver
13. Murtala Baba Kusa, Express
14. Ibrahim Muazzam, Radio Kano
The above members of staff are expected to report back to their respective organizations for re-assignment, pls.”
While no explicit reason was provided for this abrupt action, it has been suggested that there were underlying issues that led to this decision.
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Reports indicate that an altercation occurred between members of the Government House press crew and operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) during a condolence visit by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to Jigawa State following a tragic petrol tanker incident that resulted in over 170 fatalities.
The DSS had restricted access, allowing only certain pressmen into a specific area, which caused discomfort among the Government House crew and escalated into a shouting match.
Additionally, there were concerns regarding some members of the press crew approaching Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed at a hotel during his visit to Kano for a religious event.
This action reportedly did not sit well with authorities at the Kano Government House, particularly because they utilized official vehicles for this purpose without prior approval.
Sources close to the situation have indicated that these incidents may not be the sole reasons behind the suspension. There have been ongoing tensions related to previous events, including an incident where a journalist was reportedly hit by a stray bullet near the Government House—a claim that was denied by officials.
At another time earlier this years, members of the Correspondents Chapel, an arm of the Kano State council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists announced a boycott of state government’s activities due to what they claimed to be disregards from the government.
This history of strained relations between journalists and government officials appears to have contributed to calls for restructuring within the press team assigned to cover government activities.
This latest suspension of 14 journalists from covering activities at the Government House was largely due to unresolved tensions and incidents involving both governmental authority and media personnel.
Updated.
