Journalists in Adamawa State saw hell yesterday during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to commission the Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School as they were humiliated and thrown out of the venue of the occasion.
The reporters who were initially screened and allowed entry into the premises were later caged in one of the classrooms for more than three hours and later told that they have no business in the place by a presidential aide, Emmanuel C. Anita who threatened to use maximum force on them if they refused to leave the place.
But when the presidential aide was resisted by the journalists, he told them that the decision to send them away must be obeyed as it was an order from above.
When one of the journalists asked him the rationale behind his action, the aide said “You people are simply not invited for this occasion”. “Do you want me to call my men to beat you up?” he queried.
Meanwhile, business and social activities in the state capital were paralysed following the Presidential visit. With the development, the ancient city of Yola became a ghost of itself as all businesses were forced to close down because people decided to remain indoors for fear of the unknown.
Before the august visit, the spokesman of the 23rd Brigade, Yola, Captain Nuhu Jafaru had announced that major roads in the state capital would be closed to traffic while the presidential visit lasted.
The statement had sparked anxiety in the people who became agitated by the stringent security measures especially the aerial surveillance mounted by security agents across Yola.
Also the Jimeta ultra-modern market as well as majority of the commercial banks in the city were forced to close shop following the restriction of movement order imposed on the city.
Similarly, many parents have barred their wards from attending schools because of the restriction.
The development attracted heavy criticism from residents who lamented bitterly that the president’s visit should not be used to punish the public.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Murtala Nyako has slammed Jonathan/Sambo Success Group for branding the APC-led government in Adamawa State as a failure because President Goodluck Jonathan was billed to commission Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School in the state.
The governor said he deserves commendation for the numerous federal projects his administration executed which have been neglected by the Peoples Democratic Party’s government led by President Goodluck Jonathan.
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