SA clarifies issues of Press Gallery of Govt House, Gombe
…..says admission into the gallery reserved not out of bounds
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Special Adviser on Information Management and Strategy to Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, has reacted to some insinuations by a section of Government House Press Crew.
In a statement on Saturday, Gombe stated that the issues of Press Gallery which some sections of journalists have made a focus of discussion is unfounded and meaningless because he occupied the alleged office on Government’s permission and he didn’t single-handledly snatch it from anybody as insinuated.
According to him, “I am so disappointed that before today people that I expected to know better in addressing issues like this went to a Press briefing to make me a subject of discussions”.
Continuing his reactions, he said, “I have noticed the cold attitude of some people here towards me because of this gallery issue, sadly, some of these people are people that I have been sympathising with Immediately I was appointed because in 2001 I worked with them as reporters and I returned in 2022 and still met them as reporters; some of them are the same people that are antagonising me today.I now know why they are where they still are.
“Again some of others who vowed never to see anything good about me either due to policy decisions I am implementing or some initiatives I am introducing that brought changes and because they are allergic to change, Special Adviser must be brought down by all means including the application of pedestal means.”
“One of our Problems is hypocrisy.when I first came I engaged all of you in the media NUJ, Chapel and Government House Press Crew. I listened to you very well and your problems.I have it on record many of you claiming Holiness today, came to me and said this person is bad; that person is that person friend and boy. In fact, one wrote me that the meeting I called was not attended by this and that because they will not attend if it was not called by DG Press and the person sent me a list of names.
“Again I was sent a WhatsApp message by someone among you ‘Be careful with Misilli, he is wicked and he is main causes of all our Problems.
“Today I have been seeing these people becoming the very good friends of the DG. I am now the bad person; Chief BEN, HARUNA, AKILA, etc were called names before me.
“I like the courage of the person who first brought the issue of the Gallery here this Morning and I know why? But it is for another day. The Gallery issue has been in circulation hypocritically for sometimes and sadly, no effort was made by the crew as a team to come and meet me to hear my own side of the story just as I did with you people when I came in by meeting with you to discuss issues, what this means is that there were other motives beyond the Gallery?”he queried.
Commenting on the current use of the gallery the Special Adviser explained that notice on the door should not be misunderstood, noting that right of admission is reserved and not out of bound as interpreted by those who don’t understand the clear difference, he said, “If I may ask?, is Press Gallery your problem as Journalists in Government House or in Gombe state? What is a Gallery.?, Do you know the history of that gallery?, Did you investigate?, Do you know that even HIS EXCELLENCY Is not aware about the Existence of a Press Gallery in Government House?, That place is for SSG meeting Room.
“It is part of SSG Office; but because it was not in use by the SSG, Some of you started using it and suddenly it became a Gallery and can anyone show me any document to suggest that the Government House officially designated that place to be a Gallery?, Instead of you to push for the renovation of the CHAPEL and the Completion of the NUJ Secretariat you are ganging up against me over a structure that you are using as privilege?
“During the Press conference were some people raised the issue and reported me to the Commissioner of Information, I was disappointed because I thought they will talk about the buses promised NUJ and Chapel because as at that time the buses were not release or talk to the Commissioner about NUJ building or the chapel that was razed by fire and needed urgent renovation but instead, Special Adviser is the Focus?, When you don’t state your priorities right, you will continue to distort your accomplishments and will never get them right.
“I took an oath of office and of course the SSG is my immediate boss, I asked him for an office to discharge my duties and he gave me, I don’t give myself office the Government gave me.So if you need a Gallery as the Government.
“Beside the Gallery as it is no one denied you the use of the Gallery, it is because of the pregnant intentions towards me by some of you that decided to go away and called me names or Blackmail me.
“The Notice on the “Gallery ” said : Right of admission reserved”, It did not say out of bounds”, so if you are limited by capacity to interprete simple words of caution so be it.
“Besides that, the place was turned into a transit camp and a place for cleaners,Journalists, political hangers- on, phones charging point, all sorts of people converge there with no one to account for the occupants and we use the place to pick calls from the public who called on our Citizens participation in governance initiative of H.E’ s directive, so we needed control and discipline on the part of those in that place.”
Gombe, warned that no amount of gang up or gossip would derail his drive, “no amount of gang up, intimidation, conspiracy or blackmail can stop me from doing my job.I am not here to divide the stakeholders neither am I in a competition with anyone, before me, there were others while some were frustrated using this same kind of attitude and conspiracy by some masquerades not me, I will do my job,” he added.
