By Mark Lenu
Following allegations of violence meted out to the physically challenged community in Rivers State by a broadcast journalist, Kie Obomanu, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has called on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to expel Obomanu from its membership.
At a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, JONAPWD also called on Radio Rivers where Obomanu works to terminate his employment, adding that Obomanu lacks the ethical discipline to be a journalist.
This was contained in a statement signed and read by the Secretary-General of JONAPWD, Rivers State Chapter, Dr Ngo Baridapdoo who had once petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over the threat to his life by Obomanu.
The statement said: “We gather here today to shed light on a deeply troubling situation that has caused immeasurable pain, fear, and division within the community of persons living with disabilities in Rivers State. It is both shocking and regrettable that one of our own, Kie Obomanu, a journalist and news editor at Radio Rivers, has chosen to abandon his responsibility as an advocate for justice and inclusivity, instead becoming a terror to those he should be representing.
“Obomanu, whose brother is the current Governor of Rivers State, has weaponized his proximity with power to intimidate and harass our physically challenged community.
“Under the guise of advocacy, he has orchestrated acts of violence and intimidation, sending his bodyguards who are hearing impaired (Deaf and Dumb) to assault me, Dr. Ngo Baridapdoo, the current Secretary General of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Rivers State Chapter at Orugbon healthcare center during the insurance registration organized by the Rivers State government in Port Harcourt on 12/12/2024. This despicable act of aggression was extended to my wife, who was also assaulted during the incident.
“Regrettably, I am not the first victim of Kie Obomanu’s inhumane actions. He has consistently used persons with hearing impairment as a tool to intimidate and harass other persons with disabilities in Rivers State, and we have documented evidence of these incidents.
“In 2018, he threatened to kill me, prompting me to file a petition before the DSS. Unfortunately, no action was taken. It is disheartening that an individual with such a history of intimidation and violence could still present himself as a journalist in Rivers State. We are told that he is currently a news editor at Radio Rivers PH.
“Even more troubling is the fact that Kie Obomanu, who is himself a person with a disability, engages in such diabolic acts against his fellow disabilities.
“These actions are not isolated incidents but part of a consistent pattern of harassment and intimidation aimed at consolidating Obomanu’s ambitions, including his unrelenting quest to become chairman of our community by any means necessary.
“Instead of using his position as a journalist to amplify the voices of the marginalized, he has become an oppressor, exploiting the very individuals he should uplift. This behavior is a betrayal of the trust our community placed in him and a violation of the ethical principles of journalism. It has caused significant unrest, fear, and disillusionment among persons living with disabilities in Rivers State.”
OUR DEMANDS
- Revocation of NUJ Membership Certificate
We call on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, to immediately revoke Kie Obomanu’s membership certificate. His actions are a blatant violation of the ethical standards of journalism, and he has proven unworthy of the trust and responsibility associated with this noble profession.
- Immediate Dismissal from Radio Rivers and other media houses
We urge Radio Rivers to terminate Mr. Obomanu’s employment without delay. His continued presence at the station is a stain on its reputation and an endorsement of his reprehensible actions.
- Exclusion from Disability-Related Activities
With immediate effect, we prohibit Kie Obomanu from participating in any disability-related activities or functions within Rivers State and Nigeria at large. His presence is divisive, disruptive, and antithetical to the principles of unity and progress that we stand for.
