Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer and journalist has voiced concerns over possible intimidation after receiving a message from Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, following her report on water scarcity in Abuja.
Giwa-Osagie posted the purported message that Olayinka, Wike’s spokeswoman and Senior Special Assistant on Media, sent her in a video that went viral on Tuesday night.
According to her, the message read: “If you are asked to come and substantiate your claims now, human rice and beans (referring to human rights activists) will start making noise.”
Reacting to the message, the journalist questioned whether it was meant as a threat or an attempt to intimidate her over her reporting.
“Following my report on water scarcity in Abuja, the Minister Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, his spokesperson and Senior Special Assistant on Media, sent me a message which I will post here,” she said in the video.
“Is this a threat? Is this intimidation? Is this undue influence? I’m bringing this out to the public so you can all decide. I’m not sure if it’s a mockery of our human rights.”
Giwa-Osagie also referenced sections of the Nigerian Constitution that safeguard press and speech freedom.
The journalist argued that the topics she brought up in her report were already widely known.
She claims that in October of last year, Daniel Salka, the general manager of the Abuja water treatment plant, discussed the lack of chemicals required to purify water.
She also cited a January article by Aliyu Abdullahi that warned of an impending water deficit if authorities did not solve chemical shortages, mechanical issues, and the diversion of water intended for treatment plants.
Additionally, she argued that if the minister’s office disputes her claims, it should respond publicly rather than through private messages.
“If the aim is to counter the information, they should publicly issue a statement or counter the claims openly,” Giwa-Osagie said.
“I’m bringing this to the public so you understand what actually happens behind the scenes when I speak about some of these topics. It’s not all rosy over here, but we will continue.”
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