Akwa Ibom APC Candidate Ekere Denies Role In Detention Of Journalist

All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere has denied claims of culpability in the arrest and continued incarceration of Prince Sam, a critical journalist based in Akwa Ibom State.

Ekere in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Utibe Ukim, said that he could not be held personally responsible for the actions of the police or other law enforcement agencies that he insinuated may have been behind Ukim’s fate.

Noting a press statement issued by the Coalition of Akwa Ibom State Media Professionals titled:  Before the Dark Cloud Falls on Akwa Ibom Media Practioners and Other Vocal Akwa Ibom Indigenes, the NDDC boss said:

“This assertion is false, baseless and completely devoid of any iota of truth and has been concocted to paint Mr. Ekere in the negative.  For the avoidance of doubt, let me state clearly that Mr. Ekere is not – and cannot be – behind the travails of Prince Sam or any journalist, publisher, blogger or anyone with opinion that differs from his. Mr. Ekere is not synonymous with the Nigerian Police Force and we will therefore refuse every attempt to link him to the activities of the Police anywhere and in any manner.

“Mr. Ekere is a staunch believer in press freedom and in the rights of media practitioners to hold governments and leaders accountable for the trust reposed on them by the people. He believes in the right to free speech.  As he has said very often, a free press is a critical building block for the future he envisions for Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria and cannot take or support any action that curtails that freedom.”

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