I Will Stop You from Covering Abia State Govt Functions – Umuahia North LG Chairman Dares Journalists
I Will Stop You from Covering Abia State Govt Functions – Umuahia North LG Chairman Dares Journalists
…Labels them Imbeciles, Criminals, Madmen
The Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area in Abia State Smart Ihuoma, has threatened to bar a group of journalists who monitored the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia, the state capital, on Saturday, from covering any future state government functions.
Trouble began when the journalists, after interviewing the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna; the Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, reportedly snubbed the Mayor.
Ihuoma, who had positioned himself for an interview after the others, lost his temper over the perceived snub. In a fit of anger, he hurled insults at the journalists, referring to them as “criminals,” “imbeciles,” and “mad people.”
He further threatened to ensure that the journalists involved would be barred from covering any future state government functions, an assertion that provoked strong reactions from the reporters, who challenged him and explained the reason for the snub.
The journalists accused Ihuoma of repeatedly refusing to pay their honorarium after covering and publishing numerous events involving the LG chairman. They alleged that he has consistently failed to recognize or respect their role in the media.
It was gathered that Ihuoma became physically aggressive at one point and attempted to attack an elderly journalist. He was only restrained by bystanders who intervened, preventing an assault on a reporter from Family Love FM, Umuahia.
Despite appeals for Ihuoma to refrain from further confrontational behaviour, he continued to boast that none of the journalists present would be allowed to attend any future state government functions. He also claimed to have memorized their faces to enforce his threats.