President Muhammadu Buhari has disowned his Chief Security Officer, CSO, Bashir Abubakar for expelling The Punch correspondent, Olalekan Adetayo from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina made this known through on Monday.
Adetayo’s accreditation was withdrawn by the CSO on Monday over a story which bothered on the health of President Buhari.
Reacting to the development, Adesina in a tweet said his office was not consulted by the CSO. Buhari’s spokesman said that the president was still committed to press freedom in Nigeria.
“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”, he twitted.
Confirming the development to Journalists, Adeayo said that the CSO summoned him Monday afternoon and asked him to tender a statement over the story he co-authored, published on Sunday edition of The Punch.
But at the verge of presenting the statement, his Identity Card was confiscated as he was escorted out of the premises.
Meanwhile, the incident is seen by many to be a betrayal of Buhari’s promise in upholding Press Freedom.
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