The Elendu Arrest & the Hunt for Pointblanknews/Saharareporters' Publishers

By Hakeem Babalola

My attention has been drawn to the arrest of Jonathan Elendu, the publisher of the on-line media outfit Elendureports.com. I am also aware there is on-going investigation of both pointblanknews.com and Saharareporters - two on-line publications being managed by Nigerians in the Diaspora.

According to reports, the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) picked up Jonathan Elendu at the Nnamidi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after arriving from the United States of America. He was immediately driven to the headquarters of the SSS in Aso Drive within the precinct of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. Another reports also have it that shortly after the return of "President" Yar'Adua from his 17 day-medical trip abroad, he ordered the investigation of these prominent Internet based magazines "over series of exclusive reports written by the two partnering media houses about his hidden health situation".

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There is nothing new in arresting, detaining, maltreating, unjust persecution, even killing of journalists - in Nigeria or other places where governments are uncomfortable with the media. Nigerian journalists have had their own share of government brutality. Such trait of extreme cruelty thrusts itself into attention during the reign of Buhari/Idiagbon when Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabo were jailed under the repressive Decree 2. 

The Nigerian government continued its ferociousness under Babangida when a letter bomb from the president killed Dele Giwa in his apartment. Though Sani Abacha carried such brutal barbarous savagery act to the maximum, there was little different in the motive which was to instil fears into the media practitioners. It was done to gag the press. Under Abacha, it was not only the press that suffered but any organisation that opposed the maximum ruler. Alex Ibru, the Guardian publisher, nearly lost his life. Newspapers and magazines were proscribed and editors jailed for treason under what seemed a kangaroo Court.   Such guerrilla war against the press was so rampant that most major media houses had to device new tactics by operating underground.

Even under Obasanjo, a man who is fond of preaching the gospel of tolerance more than Jesus Christ, things did not get better. It is an open secret that the man hates journalists. It was even reported that he once flogged a journalist at "our" Ota Farm. Also, it should be recalled that he once compared a dog to a journalist. The mention of the word journalist always cause headache for Baba Iyabo. Little wonder that he refused to sign the FOI (Freedom of Information) bill before being pressurized to leave Aso Rock.  

Yar’Adua coined a loving phrase as a servant leader and promised the nation to desist from his predecessor's rashness and hatred for the press. He would follow the rule of law unlike his predecessor. He would respect the opinions of his fellow citizens and human rights according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Even he once attributed his slow pace due to his determination to respect the rule of law. So what should we call this latest arrest by his super power agents alias SSS? If the guy committed an offence, there are appropriate channels to take care of it.

Of course, every government has the right to investigate, probe, detain its citizens that violate the rule of law, most especially anything that could jeopardise the security of the nation. And governments always hide under this in order to clamp down on any citizen or organisation perceived as enemy. Nigerian governments have always hide under the national security to punish the fourth estate of the realm even though the perpetual conduct of the former is a big threat to our national security. Have you thought of the irony? Or is rigging elections and looting the public treasury not amount to treason?

It is true that on-line publications reporting on Nigeria have carried the art of investigative news reporting to another level. Accuse them of recklessness if you like. While doing that you must as well ask yourself a pertinent question: are the stories being reported accurate and fact-based? As for me, this is the crux of the matter. How many of those "reckless" reports have turned to be false? I really do not see any reason why Yar’Adua and his network of agents should continue to fret over these small details.

Just of recent, the same SSS detained and harassed Channels TV staff for wrongly reporting that Mr. President might resign on health ground. The decision was later reversed. Poor Jonathan Elendu! What could he have done to warrant the questioning from the Almighty SSS? Well, such indiscriminate arrest can only make the guy more popular. The SSS has succeeded in making the guy a celebrity, for I have been a frequent visitor to Elendureports.com since the arrest.

While I understand that certain government will always embark on investigating news channels like Pointblanknews.com and Saharareporters.com, I detest the hunt for the publishers. It's okay to investigate them in order to ascertain that they are serious journalists and not blackmailers disguising as publishers. But to spread a dragnet to arrest them if and when they are sighted in Nigeria even before the conclusion of the on-going investigation is a reminder of that period when subsequent junta tried to repress the freedom of thought and expression. Historically, tyrannical suppression of liberty by a civilian or military government has always been defeated by the superior power of the human spirit.

Therefore, I am always taken aback whenever I encounter a situation whereby a government tries to cow the journalist's mind. When are they going to learn the truth that the power of a dictatorial state is impotent compared to the power of the human spirit! By the way, what are these websites being investigated for? Is it to know their sources? It is interesting that the government spokespersons have not being able to refute most of the stories published so far. Perhaps the Almighty SSS or the power above should have waited a little longer. Otherwise there are many Nigerians in the Diaspora including yours truly to be picked up, arrested and detained, for we are not satisfied with the situation in our land. No amount of secret oath will hinder the flow of information, for the public has the right to know.

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Chairman of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crime Commission), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has just released a bombshell implying that the nation may not have case against former governors and presidents after all. I mean what was she talking about when she said that she did not inherit 31 case file on ex-governors from her predecessor? We are angry, especially we are sad simply because every Nigerian government has engaged in loud and empty and confused talk. Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), War Against Indiscipline (WAI), SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme), Year 2000, 2010 and now 2020. Where has it led us? Hum, who is fooling who?

The "recklessness" reporting being associated with Pointblanknews.com; Saharareporters.com and others is a response to the recklessness in governance by the Nigerian politicians. If telling Nigerians the truth about their president's health is a threat to the nation, what about the president who failed to disclose the truth about his health? What about the president who vamoosed for more than two weeks without bothering to address Nigerians about the whole matter, and in the process caused speculations? 

Whilst I do not rule out government supposition that the opposition might be feeding these on-line publications with "damaging" stories, I doubt if they are being financed by the opposition. Such financial involvement by the opposition will not only jeopardise the integrity of these on-line publications, but will have defeated the initial struggle. Personally, I contribute to these websites with the hope that they are not being financed by politicians, or any other organisations detrimental to peoples' progress. However, if Jonathan Elendu is involved in money laundering for a South-South governor and in blackmailing a senator with an alleged demand for N20 million to keep some secrets from being published, as reported by Dipo Kehinde of the Compass - then he must face the music.

2008 copyright                      

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