By Nuel Suji
German Radio -Deutsche Welle’s Correspondent in Nigeria, Mr. Ubale Musa has been barred from covering the activities President Goodluck Jonathan in the State House.
Mr. Gordon Obua, the Chief Security Officer to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan Monday ordered the immediate withdrawal of the State House accreditation badge of Musa over a question he asked the visiting Chadian President, Mr. Idris Derby about the involvement of South African mercenaries in the war on terror in north eastern Nigeria.
Ubale’s accreditation was withdrawn shortly after the visit of the President of Chad, Derby to the President Jonathan at the State House.
Confirming the withdrawal, Mr. Musa said the CSO appears not to be comfortable with the question he asked the visiting Chadian leader.
According to him, he had asked President Derby, the link between the troops of the Multi-national Task Force and mercenaries from South Africa that are currently fighting in the Sambisa forest.
He said the Chadian leader responded that he was not aware of the presence of mercenaries in Sambisa fighting alongside multi-national troops.
But, it appears the CSO considered the question embarrassing and immediately ordered the withdrawal of Mr. Ubale’s Villa accreditation badge.
Some prominent foreign media organisations like AFP, Reuters, BBC, Radio France, Bloomberg, AP are accredited to cover the State House alongside their local counterparts.
But, with the CSO’s action, Radio Duetsche Welle can no longer report the activities of Nigeria’s President.
