Buhari's CSO Embarrasses Punch Reporter, Forces Him Out of Aso Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari

A reporter with Punch has been left red-faced after he was forced out of the Aso Villa for writing a report about Buhari's health status.

The Chief Security Officer to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Abubakar, on Monday expelled PUNCH’s State House Correspondent, Olalekan Adetayo, from the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Punch, Abubakar had earlier summoned Adetayo to his office and questioned him on two reports he considered uncomplimentary of Buhari and his administration. He referred to the lead story of SUNDAY PUNCH of April 23, 2017, titled “Fresh anxiety in Aso Rock over Buhari’s poor health” and queried the motive behind it.

He also referred to our corespondent’s column, Aso Rock Lens, published on Saturday, April 22, 2017, and titled “Seat of power’s event centres going into extinction.” Abubakar asked one of his men to go and take our correspondent’s statement and revert to him. He thereafter directed the Officer in Charge, Department of State Services, Victor Nwafor, to withdraw our correspondent’s accreditation tag and lead him out of the premises after retrieving his personal belongings from the Press Gallery of the Council Chambers. Nwafor left an instruction at the Admin Reception that Adetayo should no longer be allowed into the premises after which he handed him over to another security operative who led our correspondent to where his car was parked to ensure he left the premises as instructed.

The latest move by those close to the President has been interpreted as a way of trying to silent the media from writing stories that may appear unfavourable to the government. While reacting to the incident, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina said the media office was not consulted before the overzealous CSO took his decision. "We weren't consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom. "An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way." Adesina wrote.