ABEOKUTA– The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council has called on the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Azeez Adeyemi not to pitch it against the state governor, Dapo Abiodun
The council in a strong worded statement, said the governor aide act of harassment, intimidation, and defamation of character on one of its esteemed member, Osoba Olajide may tarnish the cordial relationship between the body and the government.
The statement signed by the council chairman, Wale Olanrewaju and the secretary, Bunmi Adigun stated further that the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Union will not watch while any of its members is subjected to judiciary trials without investigation.
“Rising from it’s emergency State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting, the Union condemns the unwarranted threats, assasination of character, verbal abuse, and reprehensible behaviour towards a journalist by Mr. Azeez Adeyemi and a group of individuals believed to be members and affiliates of his own dreaded faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
“This utterly unacceptable act began from the 2025 May 1st celebration which our Union, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), an affiliate Union of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) actively participated with her members. Comrade Osoba, a bonafide member of the NUJ, was in attendance but later harassed, mercilessly beaten and seriously wounded, allegedly, on the directive of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Comrade Azeez Adeyemi, while coming out of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, without a cause.
“This unfortunate case, Comrade Osoba, incidented at the Ibara Divisional Police Station, Ibara, Abeokuta. Following his invitation for inquiry by the police from Ibara Divisional Police Station, the S.A has left no stone unturned in his intentional attempt to harass, intimidate and coerce Olajide Osoba, as he embarked on retaliatory moves by writing two frivolous petitions in which he directly called Olajide Osoba a member of a dreaded cult group, and asked the police to hunt and arrest the journalist using his office as Special Assistant to Governor as basis for this oppression.
“Last week only, police officers from the State Headquarters, Eleweran, came to arrest Osoba, waiting on him from morning till night so as to be whisked away even without prior invitation. In the same vein, officers from the Abeokuta division of the office of the AIG, Zone 2, Lagos, came with another letter of invitation while Adeyemi’s boys also continually laid siege for Osoba at the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre.
“This utterly uncivilized behaviour from the Special Assistant cannot be tolerated in a democratic society, granted that any form of assault on a journalist is an affront to the fundamental principles of press freedom and the right of citizens to access accurate and unbiased information. The press must remain free, unshackled, and empowered to fulfill its vital role in society.
“It is deeply concerning that an individual entrusted with the responsibility of upholding law and order would resort to using excessive force and intimidation against journalists. Such actions not only undermine the integrity of the media but also erode the trust between the government and the people it serves”, the statement reads
Subsequently, the council therefore declare Azeez Adeyemi a persona non grata within and around its Secretariat, at Iwe Iroyin Press House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
It further stated that ” That police and thugs harassment and intimidation of our members (journalists) orchestrated by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Ogun State, Mr Azeez Adeyemi, and people alike should immediately stop while proper investigation should be launched into the matter, srarting from 2025 May Day celebration brutal incident. We shall not tolerate or accept any move that will gag our members and prevent them from discharging their statutory responsibilities under any guise in Ogun State.
“That as proponents of freedom of the press, under no circumstance, shall we permit any move that will silence the conscience of the members of the fourth estate of the realm. Our Secretariat is a safe space for press freedom and professional journalism”.
It therefore called on the state government to as a matter of urgency, call the Special Assistant to order, adding that measures are put in place to safeguard the rights and safety of lives of journalists as repeated infractions will no longer be treated lightly.
“Ogun NUJ and its members have enjoyed good working relationship and fantastic partnership with the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State, and we shall not allow an overzealous Special Assistant to pitch government against the media, giving government bad image in the sights of the public.
“Ogun NUJ reiterates its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of journalists and maintaining the sanctity of the media space in the State”, the statement concludes
