The Periscope reporter
* In the Name of Peace, leave Chief Crowther Seth Alone – Deputy Gov media handler
* In the Name of Peace, don’t insult the media as being misfit or mischief, simply go to court for the alleged libel – The publishers, media managers
The Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Crowther Seth has said that he would sue the media for libel.
In a rather undiplomatic and insulting piece, seemed to be articulated by Mr. Seth’s media handlers and shared by the DG Communications to Adamawa State Governor Thursday, Mr. Seth technically denied that the Lunguda people who are reduced to refugees in their own community, have boo booed in the protest demanding for his removal as Deputy Governor for allegedly siding with a hidden villain, said to be the mastermind of wanton destruction of lives and property, resulting to the displacement of people as was reported by the media.
“Is this how bastardised a profession we now have on our hands?
“Is there no price for reporting what defames, embarrasses, lies against and discolours the truth?
“These media hack-writers must know and be prepared to pay the price for their unprofessional and unethical conduct and reporting.
“It is nauseatingly baffling that some of these media organisations that pride themselves as defenders of human rights bother less about hearing and weighing Deputy Governor Crowther Seth before going to town with their hastily cobbled pastiche of so-called news reports…just because their sole purpose was to satisfy the wishes of their paymasters.
“Well, the Office the Deputy Governor has assured that it shall sue.
“It is about time media houses learn some responsible journalistic ethics, even if they have to be taught by a few cases in court,” the piece read in part.
The Media managers in defence of their reporters, wondered what is unprofessional, taking the human angle, reporting the agitation of the aggrieved as it is?
“As for the media organisations who embarked on this campaign of calumny against the deputy governor, where is their honour as purported members of the Fourth Estate?” The piece in sympathy to Crowther Seth asked.
Campaign of calumny! didn’t it happen? Is it the media that has simply reported on the scene that should be challenged for libel or the aggrieved in protest?
Why didn’t the deputy governor who was right there, denied the allegation against him before the governor, in the name of peace?
In the name of peace, the media merely reported that “the Lunguda people of Guyuk local government area, southern senatorial district of Adamawa state, northeast Nigeria Monday, demanded the immediate removal of the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Crowther Seth over alleged alliance and clandestine romance with the suspected criminal and mastermind of recent attacks on Dumna-Boshikiri axis, Alh Halilu popularly known as Sarki Yaki (SY) of lafiya lamurde.
“The collective call by the Lunguda community came when the governor and his deputy visited to restore peace in the area.
The Governor was received by protesting against Crowther, crowd carrying placards with inscription: “Arrest Halilu (SY), he is the cause of the problem’’ ‘’Deputy Governor harbouring Halilu SY,’’ ‘’we support Governor Fintiri but Deputy Governor is complicating issues,’’ ‘’deputy Governor harbouring war monger halilu (SY)’’ the report read in part.
Now hear the introductory part of the piece on “In the Name of Peace leave Chief Crowther Seth Alone.”
“I read with great sadness the unprofessional and malicious reports in the media attempting, in vain, to link the deputy governor of Adamawa State, Chief Crowther Seth, to the unfortunate crisis that recently broke out between the Lunguda and Waja communities in Dumna District, Guyuk local government area of the state.
“Having digested the trash I read, I decided to refrain from replying and let things be but here I am responding to the feeble antics of desperate politicians who are envious of the superlative track record of the Ahmadu Umar Fintiri-led administration in the state.
“However, seeing that the architects of this defamatory campaign are bent on poisoning the minds of the good people of Guyuk local government area and the general public, it has become necessary to put the records straight.”
Put the record straight? What record and why was it not put straight before the aggrieved in protest when the governor paid an arbitration visit on Monday?
What’s the offence of the media? Is it simply for reporting?
How we wish that media would be represented in the administrative panel, whose outcome it is hoped, would put the record straight while wait to be invited before the law for alleged media libel against the deputy governor as he threatens to file.