Kwara PDP Condemns Role Of Water Resources Commissioner In Local Journalist’s Defamation Case, Accuses Him Of Intolerance
Kwara State PDP on Wednesday condemned the role played by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade in a local journalist’s defamation case while also accusing him of intolerance.
The journalist in question, Mr. Abdulrahman Bologi is the Publisher of Nupeko TV Lafiagi.
The party expressed concern and noted that it found it disappointing that the local journalist has gotten remanded in a Correctional Center as a result of the defamation suit filed by Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade.
Bologi and Lade are from the Nupe axis of the state and Nupeko TV Lafiagi mainly reports events, issues, and stories within Nupe land.
The state PDP in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Olusegun Olusola Adewara said it is shameful that the Abdulrazaq administration which came into being on the wings of freedom of expression and accountability has now become a tool of intimidation against journalists and those who dare to question its failures.
‘Our party sees the remand of Publisher of NupekotvLafiagi as another glaring example of the intolerance, abuse of power, executive rascality, and suppression of dissent that have become hallmarks of the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration.
We are particularly disappointed that Hon. Usman Lade, the Commissioner for Water Resources, who is himself a young man and was once a beneficiary of public goodwill, has suddenly become intolerant of criticism and dissent’ the party said.
The statement added that Lade’s decision to file a lawsuit against a young journalist over a simple publication questioning his false claims about the Lafiagi Waterworks project is a disturbing sign of arrogance and poor democratic culture.
‘Up till this moment, the people of Lafiagi still suffer from water scarcity, contrary to the false claims made by Mr Lade and his ministry that the community now enjoys a functional water system. Nupeko TV only did what responsible journalism requires — to expose the truth, ask questions, and defend the people’s right to basic amenities’ the party added.
While commending Nupeko TV Lafiagi and its publisher for their courage, professionalism, and commitment to truth in journalism, the PDP also called on the Kwara State Judiciary to operate with the fear of God and uphold the principles of justice and fairness in the discharge of its duties.
‘While we acknowledge that the granting of bail is at the discretion of the court, we will like to remind the judiciary that defamation is a bailable offense under Nigerian law, and bail conditions must never be used as an instrument of punishment or oppression against an innocent man’ the statement said.
The party urged the Attorney General of the Federation, Barrister Lateef Fagbemi to pay rapt attention to the Kwara State judiciary, warning that the alleged continued weaponization of the courts and security agencies against journalists, opposition figures, and civic voices in Kwara State poses a grave danger to democracy.
‘We are calling on civil society organizations, human rights activists, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to rise in defense of press freedom and the protection of journalists from intimidation and arbitrary detention. The PDP stands with Nupeko TV Lafiagi and every journalist committed to holding power accountable in Kwara State’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
