The speaker of the Benue state assembly Makurdi, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange has denied that Channels Television has been barred from carrying out its constitutional duties of informing the public on current happenings in the Benue Assembly.
Reacting to media report in some of the national dailies insinuating that he ordered Channels Television out of the Benue state House of assembly complex, the Ushongo representatives described channels television as one of the medium that adhered to effective and balanced reportage of political activities that led to the 2015 general elections.
He said the assembly under his leadership will be delighted to have the television station to publicize its activities on an daily basis and wondered why overzealous security operatives attached to the assembly would stop them from performing its constitutional roles.
“As lawmakers elected by the people, the House owed the public a responsibility to be accountable and transparent in all its dealings, hence the need to allow credible media outfits to attend to its duties.” He resigned that due to security report received from security agencies, there was the need to beef up security in and around the assembly complex while journalists coming to cover its proceedings were also subjected to security checks, that fateful day.
In a statement in Makurdi, the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Bem Abunde quoted the speaker as refuting the claims by the Television reporter that all other journalists were allowed access to the assembly complex except the Channels’ crew; pointing out that the only group of journalists that were allowed into the chambers were those that made up the assembly media crew due to their earlier accreditation.