The correspondent of The Nation Newspapers in Ekiti State, Odunayo Ogunmola, has petitioned the Department of State Services, DSS, and the police over alleged threat to his life by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s aide.
Mr Ogunmola specifically accused the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Fayose, Lere Olayinka, of posting injurious photograph about him on Facebook and social media platforms with the intention to expose him to attacks and endanger his life.
The reporter, in the petition dated May 2, 2018 and addressed to the Director of DSS in Ekiti State, Promise Ihenacho, and the police Commissioner, Ekiti Command, Abdullahi Chafe, requested that the matter should be thoroughly investigated.
He accused Mr Olayinka of threatening him over a report he published in The Nation edition of May 2, where he reported that the 2018 Workers’ Day was marred by low turnout of workers, which he said provoked the governor’s aide.
Sequel to the report, he said Mr Olayinka had downloaded his photographs on Facebook with his mobile number, inciting the members of the public to start harassing him on the strength that he was an enemy of Fayose’s government.
Mr Ogunmola clarified that the report he wrote about the May Day event reflected the truth about what transpired at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium where the event was held and that he harboured no hatred against the present Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government in the state.
He said he had received several threat calls and messages from anonymous sources, threatening to kill him and members of his family since his photographs and number were published by Mr Olayinka.
The petition reads: “After covering the event, I filed in my report which appeared online and newspaper edition with a caption ‘Ekiti Workers Shun May Day Rally’ with the following rider: ‘Labour Leader: Workers Are Hungry’ and ‘Fayose Promotes 40,000 workers’.
“Since the report came out, I have been a subject of attacks by Olayinka on his facebook page and Whatsapp platform alleging that I am an enemy of the Ekiti State government, in which he holds the position of Special Assistant.
“Earlier today at about 11.25hr, I received phone calls from anonymous persons threatening my life on the May Day story with the following numbers: 07037352506 and 08032110982.
“Olayinka had in recent past personally called me on my phone to issue threats on stories he and his co-travellers in government are not comfortable with.
“I want this matter investigated for immediate action and should anything evil or sinister happens to me, Lere Olayinka, and indeed, Ekiti State, should be held responsible.”
However, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called for the immediate sack of the governor’s aide, describing his conduct as capable of threatening the peace of the state.
Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti, CNPP Chairman, Tunji Ogunlola, said it constituted a grave criminal offence for a reporter to be so threatened for performing his official duty.
“With this conduct, Olayinka was giving Ekiti a bad image. There was a particular time he threatened some opposition figures and they reported to the police commissioner but nothing was done. He was not called for questioning.
“We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy soldiers to Ekiti, because lives of innocent people are no longer safe under this government,” Mr Ogunlola stated.
