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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has apologised to the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the assault on the secretary of the union, Bunmi Adigun, by some of the security aides attached to him.
The Ogun NUJ scribe had accused some security aides attached to Adeleke of assaulting him on Friday, January 26, 2024, during the 66th birthday celebration and conferment of a chieftaincy title on the governor by Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, the Abepa of Joga-Orile.
Ogun State NUJ Council had demanded an apology from Adeleke over the assault on its secretary.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday hy his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor said he is a media-friendly person and won’t support the harassment of any journalist.
Rasheed, however, said the officials who harrassed the journalist do not belong to the convoy of his principal.
“The official shown in the video do not belong to the convoy of the Osun Governor.
“While an internal investigation has been conducted, Governor Adeleke’s team, especially the security apparatus, operatesstrict guidelines to ensure full respect, not just for journalists on their legitimate assignments, but also to members of the public in the discharge of their duties.
“Governor Adeleke is a deeply media-friendly leader who recently hosted the South West team of the NUJ with all state chairmen and officials in attendance.
“The Governor is also working to support the South West NUJ to host the national NUJ Conference later this year as the grand patron of NUJ for Osun state.
“However as my Principal was the key guest at the Joga-Orile event, we apologize to the Ogun State Council Secretary and assure the NUJ locally and nationally that such incident will not reoccur again,” Rasheed said.