Written by Ella Michaels
A damning new report by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has officially ranked Imo State as the worst place in Nigeria for journalists to operate, confirming long-held fears about the perilous environment for press freedom in the state. The CJID's Openness Index Report, unveiled in Abuja last Thursday by Professor Victor Ayedun-Aluma of the University of Jos, placed Imo State last on the log – 37th out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – with an abysmal score of 40.70%.
This score highlights the severe challenges journalists face in carrying out their constitutional duties, far below even Bauchi (35th, 42.69%) and Lagos (22nd, 48.93%). The ranking did not come as a surprise; it's a grim validation of what Imo has become. Imo has become synonymous with hostility, insecurity, and danger for journalists and media professionals. This report paints a disturbing picture of tyranny and despotism silencing the press.
The CJID ranking specifically assesses states on their performance in upholding press freedom. Imo's last-place finish underscores a systematic failure. Journalists in Imo face systematic intimidation, deliberate division, and government overreach. The state's Commissioner for Information, Hon. Mbadiwe Emelumba, has been accused of instigating strife among journalists, blocking media access to the Governor, and even attempting to use police intimidation against journalists refusing to comply with unethical roles.
The report further details Emelumba's alleged support for those who attempted the illegal sale of the multi-million Naira NUJ secretariat, demonstrating a pattern of hostility towards journalists. Whatever the case, hostility to journalists is hostility to truth, justice, and the fundamental rights of all Imo residents. It is an assault on our shared humanity and public sensibility.
The CJID report serves as an international indictment of press freedom conditions in Imo State. It vindicates the persistent warnings from the Imo NUJ and vocal citizens who have faced intimidation. This report further indicates that truth cannot be hidden and should serve as a call-out to all defenders of democracy: Imo State must end its war on journalism.
We demand immediate, concrete steps from the state government to reverse this dangerous trend, guarantee journalist safety, uphold press freedom, and hold those responsible for this repression accountable. The people of Imo State deserve better. They deserve a government that respects the rights of its citizens and allows the press to operate freely.
As we call for action, we also acknowledge the critical role journalists play in holding those in power accountable. Their work is essential to a functioning democracy, and it is the responsibility of governments to protect and support them. In Imo State, however, journalists are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten the very fabric of democracy.
The Imo State government must take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that journalists can operate safely and freely. This includes investigating allegations of intimidation and harassment, holding those responsible accountable, and implementing policies that promote press freedom and protect journalists' rights.
The international community is watching, and the world will not stand idly by while journalists are silenced and press freedom is trampled. We urge the Imo State government to take this report seriously and to work towards creating an environment that supports and protects journalists. The future of democracy in Imo State depends on it.
Signed: Comrade Precious Nwadike, Chairman, Imo NUJ.
