The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council has called on the state government to immediately suspend the state commissioners for Youths and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye over an attack and physical assault on a senior journalist, Tayo Ikujunni.
The Commissioner, in a statement signed by the chairman of the council, Leke Adegbite, had on Saturday physically assaulted the reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), Ikujuni, during the gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described the attack as barbaric and unacceptable, as Yusuf-Ogunleye swooped on the journalist, punched him and wriggled his cell phone from him and then threw it away.
The statement continues, “The incident happened at about 11.45 am at Eji-Oba High school, Oba-Ile, the venue of Ward 9 election in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“He was alleged to have equally ordered some of his political thugs to seize a Samsung tablet phone belonging to the reporter.
“Immediately, Yusuf-Ogunleye shouted, “who are you. You’re a useless journalist. You’re a stupid journalist. Go away from here.
“It was the quick intervention of security personnel that rescued the senior journalist from the midst of the thugs working for the Commissioner.
“We call on Mr Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to place Mr Saka Ogunleye on indefinite suspension for his physical assault on a Senior journalist like Tayo Ikujunni while performing his constitutional roles of monitoring the APC primaries.
“We call on the Commissioner to place damaged handset of the journalist and tender unreserved apology to the victim and the media industry.
“We equally direct Media Houses and professionals to halt the coverage and activities of the Commissioner until our demands are met. “
