Niger State Governor Urged to Respect Press Freedom by Pro-Tinubu Group

By Ammar M. Rajab The Deputy National Convener of the One North Movement, Mr. Sani Ahmad, has called on the Governor of Niger St...

By Ammar M. Rajab

The Deputy National Convener of the One North Movement, Mr. Sani Ahmad, has called on the Governor of Niger State, Malam Umaru Mohammed Bago, to cease the repeated arrests of journalists and media personnel who publish content contrary to the governor’s views.

In a letter addressed to Governor Bago, Ahmad emphasized that the actions of the Niger State government in detaining journalists undermine democratic principles and the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom the group described as “the best democratic president Nigeria has had since 1999.”

The letter, obtained by DAILY STRUGGLE, cautioned that continued arrests of media practitioners could compel the sender to escalate the matter directly to the President. Ahmad stressed that freedom of expression, including criticism of elected officials, is a cornerstone of democracy, pointing out that even former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current President Tinubu have faced public scrutiny without resorting to punitive measures.

Ahmad also noted that the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had previously intervened to resolve similar press freedom concerns in other states, but that Niger State remained an exception. He urged Governor Bago to focus on human development and governance rather than intimidating citizens or curbing media activities.

The letter further highlighted the disapproval of international media organizations, including the International Press Institute Nigeria, over the repeated arrests, calling on the governor to align with democratic norms and support press freedom in his state.

“Your mission should be to unite and convince citizens to abide by Mr. President, not to push them away through arrests or intimidation,” Ahmad wrote.

Governor Bago has yet to respond to the letter as of press time.