Buhari didn’t send CSO to expel Punch reporter from Villa – Presidency
* We in media office were not consulted by CSO, Femi Adesina
*Says Buhari intends no muzzling of media
A media report states that in 2015, Buhari’s administration reinstated the correspondent of Radio Deuchewelle, Musa Ubale, who was expelled by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The State House correspondent of The Punch, Olalekan Adetayo, was on Monday expelled from the beat over a story on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.
The newspaper had on Sunday reported that there was fresh anxiety at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa over Buhari’s health.
Adetayo’s tag was seized before he was subsequently driven out of the State House.
He had earlier in the afternoon been summoned and interrogated by the Chief Security Officer to the President, Mr. Bashir Bindawa.
The CSO had penultimate Thursday had an interactive session with members of the State House Press Corps during which he handed them guidelines on how to report the Villa.
The CSO had also in January summoned Daily Trust and the Punch correspondents over a story on an accidental discharge that injured a female worker at the State House.
A media report states that in 2015, Buhari’s administration reinstated the correspondent of Radio Deuchewelle, Musa Ubale, who was expelled by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ubale is the incumbent chairman of the State House Press Corps.
The Presidency has however reacted to the expulsion saying President Muhammadu Buhari did not send his CSO to do what he did.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who in his reaction to the development said the President’s Media Office was not consulted by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President before taking such action.
He Adesina, who tweeted this on his Twitter handle, Femi Adesina @FemAdesina, on Monday, said President Muhammadu Buhari would do nothing to muzzle the media in any way.
He said, “We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom.
“An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.”
