Mr Waheed Odusile, the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has demanded an unreserved apology from the Nasarawa State Government to the management of the recently demolished Breeze 99.9 FM radio station.
Odusile, at a ceremony organised to mark one month anniversary of the demolition in Lafia, also demanded the payment of compensation to the management of the private radio station.
Represented by Mr Wilson Bako, the Vice President (Zone D) of the NUJ, Odusile described demolition carried out by the state government on May 20 as “malicious, undemocratic and devilish”.
“I have earlier condemned in strong terms this devilish act and I will never hide my displeasure and disdain at the injustice that was perpetuated in Nasarawa State.
”To the actors concerned, you cannot cage smoke. The building is destroyed but the spirit lives on.”
The NUJ president urged the state government to redeem its image by reconciling peacefully with management of the radio station.
“I want to encourage the management of Breeze FM to keep up with the fight. NUJ will continue to stand by you in your effort to reclaim what was taken from you.
”I also call on the state government to tender an unreserved apology and full compensation to Breeze FM management.”
The NUJ President acknowledged the fact that the state government had every right to demolish any structure that violated land laws and posed a threat to health of citizens.
He, however, said that the manner in which the demolition was carried out lacked due process.
“We are in a democratic setting in the 21st century. So, I am shocked beyond words that in this modern age, a democratically elected government will go and pull down a building without allowing fairness, justice and due process take its course.”
Odusile said he was still in shock over the demolition.
He said that the state government should have been grateful to the station for providing job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths and not destroy the business outfit.
He also expressed dismay that a democratically elected government could antagonise the media, which, he noted, fought hard for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
“Let me say this with all seriousness. Henceforth, the NUJ will not hesitate to blacklist any government that tramples on the rights of the media.
”The NUJ will stand by the management and staff of the radio station on any legal action they wish to take,” he said.
He commended journalists in the state and the country for rallying strongly to condemn the demolition and the aftermath of the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the station located in Lafia, was pulled down for allegedly violating land approval laws, thereby posing as a health hazard to residents living close to it.
The management of the station led by Mr Nawani Aboki, said that the state government demolished the radio station for not supporting the ruling party.
According to him, the state government was also against the radio station for giving organised labour in the state a platform to air their views with regards to the ongoing strike in the state. (NAN)