By Abdullahi Lukman
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has listed Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and two Governors in its novel “Book of Infamy”.
The Book of Infamy was unveiled by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday at the opening of the Institute’s two-day annual Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
NatureNews notes that the IPI Nigeria’s “Book of Infamy” on media repression is the first of its kind in Africa and seeks to publicly name anyone that suppresses press freedom in Nigeria.
The two governors, who also made the unenviable list of the first three officials to get documented in the Book of Infamy, were those of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno; and Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Bago.
Vice President Shettima said he would reach out to all those accused of having breached the rights of journalists within two weeks, with a view to resolving the issues.
While Egbetokun was said to have failed to heed the calls by IPI to stop the arbitrary arrests of Journalists by his operatives, Eno barred the crew of Channels TV from covering the activities of the Akwa Ibom State Government House.
IPI president said Gov Bago was booked down for unlawfully ordering the closure of Badeggi FM, a private radio station in Minna, Niger State capital.
Despite appeals by IPI Nigeria for reconsideration of their decisions, which they had no powers to so take, both Bago and Eno refused to back down.
The Institute, however, honoured the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, who was described as a listening head of a sensitive government agency.
“Top on the list of his quiet achievements was the removal from the government’s watchlist of the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, after 40 years,” said Mojeed.
Ajayi was also credited with the quick release of journalists who were wrongly arrested by the secret police.
In his speech, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris who was Special Guest said the theme of the conference must be weighed against what happened in the past and determined if it is happening with the present administration.
“But as we gather today, our first duty must be to a shared foundation of facts”, he said, adding that, “does this theme describe our present reality, or does it risk anchoring us to a sad past we are actively working to transcend?
“If the theme suggests an active, systemic policy of repression by the current administration, then we must, with respect, interrogate it against the available evidence.
“A dialogue on freedom cannot itself be detached from fact,” he emphasised.
“It is in that spirit of candour and shared purpose that I stand before you today, not to reel out a list of government achievements, but to present evidence and engage in a critical dialogue about the path we are walking together towards a more accountable and sustainable democracy.
“Let me state without any ambiguity that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu operates on the fundamental principle that a sure-footed, critical, and independent press is the central nervous system of a functioning democracy.
The 2nd Annual Conference of IPI Nigeria is holding on Tuesday 2nd and will culminate on Wednesday 3rd of December with an Annual General Meeting of IPI Nigeria Board.
More than 45 new members were formally inducted during the 2025 Conference, including Dr. Mumin Alao and Dr. Bisi Deji-Folutile of Complete Sports and FranktalkNow newspapers respectively.