Basil Okoh
The elections of 2027 are drawing closer by the day and political frenzy is rising in Delta state. With it, body heat is rising too, tensions are growing and tempers are fraying. Those in government who stand to lose from revelations of happenings in the dark are getting rattled and agitated.
SaharaReporters reported in a screaming headline a few days ago that:
“Journalist Fejiro Oliver Arrested On Delta Governor’s Orders, Flown From Abuja To Asaba”
We quote from the SaharaReporters report:
“Sources told SaharaReporters that Oliver was arrested on the orders of the governor, Sheriff Oborevwori. He was picked up from his office in Garki, Abuja, taken to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), and later moved to the airport for onward transfer to Asaba, the Delta State capital”.
Neither the Delta State government nor the governor himself have denied this report.
Fejiro Oliver, whose real name is Tega Oghenedoro, the enfant terrible of Delta public communications, is the publisher of Secret Reporters, an online news platform, and Chief Executive of NACAT Initiative, a forum of young Nigerian citizens advocating for accountability, promoting good governance, and combating corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. He recently reported on developments in Government House, Asaba, Delta State.
First, he reported the fight between Mr. Tilije, the Commissioner for Finance and Mr. Reuben Izeze, the Commissioner for Urban development, during a meeting at the Cabinet Office. The Governor himself has publicly commented on that meeting and the fight that accompanied it.
Secondly, Fejiro Oliver, the nosey Parker of Delta State, reported on the meeting between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori himself and his SA’s at Unity Hall in Government House, Asaba, after which each SA was gifted, Sub Rosa, the sum of N5 million each. During that meeting, the governor made a broadside on the fight that happened between his Commissioners. Fejiro invited men and women of the state to gather round to demand their takings from the windfall to the SA’s.
According to credible sources, the basis for Oliver Fejiro’s detention, following his violent abduction, is a baseless accusation of cyberstalking the Governor and Senator Dafinone. This allegation appears to be a flimsy pretext for the government’s actions. Clearly, neither the government nor the police, who are being used to target him, grasp the concept of cyberstalking or have provided any concrete evidence to support their claims.
Cyberstalking is the use of the internet to stalk and harass someone. Cyberstalking is the use of the internet to steal and malign the identity of another. Cyberstalking is not news reporting or opinion writing. Cyberstalking can be a crime if it is used to defame someone, steal identities, issue harmful threats, or make false accusations. Mr. Oliver Fejiro’s Facebook posts consists of public facts that have not been denied. The revelation of hidden truth is not cyberstalking; it is investigative journalism. It is evident, therefore, that the government of Delta, in its ignorance, is getting prickly, irritable, and short-tempered. So, the Delta State Governor had better release the young man before the government makes a bigger fool of itself. The International Press Institute and other protection agencies are being made aware of Oliver Fejiro’s illegal detention and mistreatment.
Fejiro Oliver has been the prickly thorn tearing the sensitive flesh of Delta politicians and bringing them unceasing pain. It appears the man has his tenterhooks embedded deep in the inner core of Delta government operations and makes public all he’s told.
Fejiro Oliver reported facts, not fiction and nobody should be apprehended or oppressed for telling a public truth. For too long, people in offices of transient power think that they own the world and should get away with every crime of harassment, oppression and sometimes killing of journalists. Fighting in a public place is both a crime and of valid public interest. And paying so much unbudgeted money to public officers is also a crime and of public interest.
A journalist is within his legal rights and obligations to report matters of public interest. Therefore, Fejiro Oliver is entitled to report on issues of public concern. As a journalist, he reported these matters to the public he serves, fulfilling his duties under Nigerian law.
The Delta State government must uphold the laws governing public engagement by journalists. If Fejiro has breached these laws, he should face charges. However, there’s no evidence in his Facebook posts about Governor Oborevwori and Senator Dafinone that justifies his arrest.
Over 48 hours after his arrival in Asaba, the government remains silent, issuing no official statement. This silence raises serious concerns and constitutes a clear breach of his fundamental human rights. Given that he hasn’t defamed the Governor or the senator, the forcible arrest and transportation across the country from Abuja to Delta State seem unjustified. Why hasn’t he been charged if he’s indeed breached any laws?
And then we ask what right has the Delta state governor to order the arrest of a journalist and a citizen without a charge? People have been made to believe that holders of political power can get away with every crime of assault on citizens. Delta state governor and government are in breach of Nigerian laws by arresting and holding a citizen against his will and without a charge. These shows of unbridled and abuse of power are just what they are, shows to impress the public and intimidate journalists but they never achieve their objectives. They only make the maligned reporters stronger and more determined.
Delta state government is not the Lord of the jungle nor in the same category as Effurun Motor Park of the nineties. Delta state government is obliged to obey the laws of the land because if it does not, the governor himself cannot spend an extra day in Government House.
Let it be known that the world is watching what happens to Fejiro Oliver. We know he was Hale and hearty when Government seized and detained him without charge. Let him be released forthwith for the sake of justice and good order.
#freefejirooliver