Buhari Govt ‘Expels’ Punch Reporter From Aso Rock Over ‘Major General’

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly expelled Punch reporter from Aso Rock, Nigeria’s Presidential Villa.

YaahooJournalist reports that the development is coming a few hours after Punch Newspaper said it will now prefix President Muhammadu Buhari’s name with his rank “Major General” as a military dictator in the 80s in all its publications.

Punch took this decision in protest against the rising disregard for the rule of law by his administration.

In an editorial published on Wednesday, entitled “Buhari’s lawlessness: Our stand“, Punch said it will also refer to the Buhari administration as a regime until it purges itself of ”contempt for the rule of law”.

”As a symbolic demonstration of our protest against autocracy and military-style repression, PUNCH (all our print newspapers, The PUNCH, Saturday PUNCH, Sunday PUNCH, PUNCH Sports Extra, and digital platforms, most especially Punchng.com) will henceforth prefix Buhari’s name with his rank as a military dictator in the 80s, Major General, and refer to his administration as a regime, until they purge themselves of their insufferable contempt for the rule of law,” the newspaper said.

Hours after the editorial, Jackson Ude, a Communications expert and former Director of Strategy/Communication under President Goodluck Jonathan, has now taken to Twitter to announce that a Punch reporter covering the Presidential Villa, has been expelled from Aso Rock.

“Punch Reporter has been expelled from Aso Rock Villa,” Ude tweeted on Wednesday evening.

Punch Reporter has been expelled from Aso Rock Villa!

— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) December 11, 2019