Ondo gov. primary: Commissioner assaults senior journalist, damages his phone

…..NUJ calls his action as barbaric and unacceptable

The Ondo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, physically assaulted a senior journalist, Mr. Tayo Ikujunni, while monitoring the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

Ikujunni, an Assistant Editor-in-Chief at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reportably received a punch in the face while his phone was seized from him and thrown off at Eji-Oba High School, Oba-Ile, about 11.45 am, the venue of the Ward 9 election in Akure North Local Government Area.

Yusuf-Ogunleye swooped on the journalist, punched him, wriggled his cell phone from him, and then threw it away.

The Commissioner, who threw decorum into the winds, allegedly ordered some people, believed to be his political thugs, to seize a Samsung tablet phone that belonged to the reporter.

Yusuf-Ogunleye shouted: “Who are you? You are a useless journalist. You are a stupid journalist. Go away from here,” a witness quotes him as saying.

It was the quick intervention of security personnel that rescued the senior journalist from the thugs.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has described the attack and physical assault on the senior journalist, Ikujunni, by the Ondo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, as barbaric and unacceptable.

The commissioner had physically assaulted Ikujuni during the governorship primary of the APC, the union said in a statement obtained by Persecondnews.

The union said:”Yusuf-Ogunleye swooped on the journalist, punched him, wriggled his cell phone from him, and then threw it away.

“He was alleged to have equally ordered some of his political thugs to seize a Samsung tablet phone belonging to the reporter.

“Immediately, Yusuf-Ogunleye shouted, “Who are you? You’re a useless journalist. You’re a stupid journalist. Go away from here.”

In the statement signed by the Chairmam of NUJ, Comrade Leke Adegbite, the union said the action of the commissioner was uncivilized, and called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to immediately suspend Mr. Saka Ogunleye and launch an investigation into the incident.

“Ondo NUJ observes with sadness that Mr. Ogunleye’s attitude towards media professionals in the state was unbecoming of a public office holder like him.

“We call on Mr. Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to place Mr. Saka Ogunleye on indefinite suspension for his physical assault on a senior journalist like Tayo Ikujunni while performing his constitutional role of monitoring the APC primaries.

“We call on the commissioner to replace the damaged handset of the journalist and tender an unreserved apology to the victim and the media industry.

“We equally direct media houses and professionals to halt the coverage and activities of the Commissioner until our demands are met.”