The drama which culminated into the expulsion of PUNCH Correspondent from Aso Rock,Nigeria’s Presidential Villa appears to have come to a sudden end.
Indications to this effect came Monday night through a message to the Chairman Villa Correspondent’s chapel by Mallam Garba Shehu,Senior Special Assistant,Media and Publicity To the President.
Shehu said in the message, “We just got a clearance from Malam Lawal Daura, the DG SSS to recall Lekan to the Villa. Please come along with him tomorrow. The Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina and I will resolve the issues.
He also advised, “the Correspondents and the rest of your members to handle this with maturity. It will not help anyone to start daring the security. Lekan should be assured that he is safe. We will straighten out everything.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesman,Femi Adesina had disowned the expulsion of PUNCH correspondent thus: “We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom.
He promised that “An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the media in any way.”
Read Garba Shehu’s message of hope below:
Chairman Villa Chapel,
We just got a clearance from Malam Lawal Daura, the DG SSS to recall Lekan to the Villa. Please come along with him tomorrow. The Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina and I will resolve the issues.
Pls advise the Correspondents and the rest of your members to handle this with maturity. It will not help anyone to start daring the security. Lekan should be assured that he is safe. We will straighten out everything.
GARBA Shehu.
SSAP (Media and Publicity)
ABUJA.
