Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday barred journalists from gaining entry into the Press Centre of the Governor’s office at the Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan. National Mirror learnt that only journalists from the state Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS, and few others who always followed the governor on his trips within the state are granted access into the centre which has been there several years ago. The barring of the journalists came about two weeks after Senator Ajimobi ignored some journalists who asked him questions about his inability to pay workers of the state in Abuja. The rumour about the incident was peddled a fortnight ago, but just yesterday, a list of the select was pasted on the door of the press centre.
It was gathered that just some months ago, journalists were not allowed to carry their vehicles into the premises of the expansive office.
When journalists got to the press centre for coverage of events yesterday which is a normal practice, a list entitled ‘accredited and unaccredited’ preferred journalists had been pasted on the door.
The list marked SEC 513/T/151 and dated July 27, 2015 was signed by one Mr. Segun Abolarinwa who described himself as the Special Adviser on Security even though the governor is yet to form his cabinet.
However, the list which emanated from the Cabinet and Special Services Department contained accredited medium which include BCOS, Ministry of Information, NTA, Galaxy, Channels, TVC, FRCN, Amuludun, Splash, Nigerian Tribune and Odua News.
Among the names pasted was a driver attached to one of the vehicles in the governor’s office.
The list of the unaccredited media houses includes OGTV, AIT, Parrot, Daily Times and many others.
Newspapers like the National Mirror, Punch, Vanguard, Daily Sun, Daily Independent,Nation were nowhere to be found on the list.
Before the pasting of the list, journalists who were not from the state broadcasting service had, had hectic time with security men at the entrance of the governor’s office.
Despite presenting identity cards on demand, security men still insisted they were not given orders by the governor to grant other journalists access.