TheCable

The Kaduna state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the attack on journalists shows that members of the opposition party are not safe in the state. ‎

On Sunday, suspected thugs invaded the NUJ centre while Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi, two senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were holding a press conference.

Sani and Hunkuyi represent Kaduna central and north at the upper legislative chamber, respectively.

Journalists were beaten in the process as chairs and other furniture were thrown into various directions.

Commenting on the incident when he paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Tuesday, Hassan Hyet, chairman of the PDP in Kaduna, said democracy is about freedom of speech.

Hyet added that people should always be allowed to express their grievances “without another group raising daggers to attack opponents”.

“Nigeria is having too many problems, our state in particular,” he said.

“If within the ruling party, we are witnessing this situation, then we that are in opposition parties, we will start becoming jittery.

“What will be our fate when the time for local government election comes?

“It is unfortunate that instead of people to organise themselves and counter their opponents by presenting their own side, they rather use their fists to cause destruction and inflict injuries on some of your members.

“Knowing the role of the press, we felt that we should visit for the good of generality of the people.

“The truth is that people must be allowed to express their grievances, express their pains and their ideas.

“We came to sympathise with you because as PDP family we felt we should be our brother’s keeper, hence we are here on behalf of PDP family across the country. We pray that this ugly episode does not happen again.”