Punch Newspaper's Hypocritical Declaration on Rivers State

By Simeon Nwakaudu

I am surprised that it took Punch Newspaper so long to make their declaration against Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. So when I saw their editorial of Sunday, December 1, 2019 taking a position on Rivers State, I took it as one of their promotional activities for those that sponsor them.

Imagine a newspaper and the day it chose to make the declaration: "Rivers State is not a Christian State, Wike." They carefully chose a Sunday and the very beginning of the Christmas Period to make their Hypocritical Declaration. It is an editorial laden birthed in negativity, with virtually nothing to do with social good.

For the Punch, their courage is usually politically targeted and aimed at pleasing specific sections of the country. They are also always intent on satisfying a particular political party.

In the editorial where Punch Newspaper "boldly " lambasted the Rivers State Governor, it failed woefully to mention states that have declared Islam as their official State Religion. They failed to mention states that officially practice Sharia as approved by their Respective State Houses of Assembly. They merely played the Ostrich in this regard, as their goal was obvious.

Earlier this year, Punch Newspaper was compelled by public outcry to sack its daily and Saturday editors because of the Newspaper's ugly foray into the issues of Christianity.

It strategically published on its back page a cartoon of a man desecrating the Bible with urine. All the Newspaper focused on was to denigrate an entire religion, simply because there was a scandal involving a cleric. They ate the humble pie after leaders of the Christian Faith protested vehemently.

The declaration that Rivers State is a Christian State is within the purview of Governor Wike to make as the elected leader of the state with the mandate of the people.

This declaration does not in any way take away the rights of other Rivers people and residents to practice other religions as they deem fit. On several occasions, Governor Wike personally explained this fact.

The hypocrisy of Punch Newspaper is both nauseating and provocative. To say the least, it is unfortunate. The intent is clear. To pitch Governor Wike against other Nigerians of other faiths, while pretending to be engaged in social advocacy.

Indeed, the Punch Newspaper's Editorial of December 1, 2019 is in bad taste and was clearly politically motivated and orchestrated to serve ugly purposes.

When it comes to a declaration that Rivers State is a Christian State, Punch Newspaper jumps to assume a Non-Existent Jurisdiction to declare that it is not. In one breadth it quotes a section of the constitution to say that Nigeria is a secular country and in another breadth the same Newspaper declares that the Nigerian Federal Government recognises two major religions.

Embedded in the Nigerian Constitution is the right to freedom of religion. That right is promoted and protected by the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Wike. It is still under this constitutional right that an overwhelming majority of Rivers people are Christians.

Punch Newspaper in its usual politically motivated bias refused to highlight that the Rivers State Government operates Rivers State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board to cater for the pilgrimage needs of Muslims in the State. A Rivers Indigene, Alhaji Abdulrazak Deprieye is the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board .

We are already accustomed to Punch Newspaper's partisanship. When the falsehood on the alleged demolition of a Non-Existent Mosque was circulated by some politicians, Punch Newspaper was one of the newspapers that celebrated the concocted and misleading report. When the truth came to the fore, Punch Newspaper made no attempt publish declarative reports about the truth.

Whenever there are security infractions in Rivers State, Punch Newspaper celebrates as if Rivers lives don't matter. If cultists clash in a community in Khana LGA for instance, Punch Newspaper would scream "Rivers of Blood". If there is an issue of security breach in a village in Emohua LGA, Punch would scream "Rivers Violence ". Majority of Punch Security reports on Rivers State are geared towards de-marketing the state. Of course, they have Rivers APC leaders as their collaborators. Rivers reports that make front page on Punch are usually the reports deliberately placed to de-market the state.

But if similar stories break in other states of geo-political zones that are aligned with their political inclination, Punch Newspaper becomes professional.

When the developments are positive about Rivers State and the State Government, Punch Newspaper usually looks the other way. If the attention of her representatives are drawn to this ugly development, they insist that it is the paper's policy.

It is that partisanship that has led to this misadventure by Punch Newspaper's Editorial Board. On what premise would an editorial board declare that Rivers State is not a Christian State?

Has the Punch Editorial Board become the Rivers State Executive Council or the Rivers State House of Assembly or even the elected Council Chairmen of Rivers State? Are members of Punch Editorial Board now elected councillors of Rivers State? On what platform can they counter Governor Wike who holds the mandate of Rivers people?

So Punch Newspaper is comfortable to say that the country is a secular state where there are constitutionally recognized Grand Khadis and Sharia Courts in different parts of the country? Governor Wike's Declaration that Rivers State is a Christian State is the REALITY. The truth of the matter. Governor Wike is a frank politician who believes in the truth.

Personally, I see the editorial by Punch Newspaper as a failed attempt at political correctness.

But I want to suggest to the Editorial Board of Punch Newspaper to take deliberate steps to be balanced in their coverage of all political parties and geo-political zones. For now, the newspaper is far from getting it right when it comes to balanced reporting. You cannot shut out positives on certain political inclinations and sing the praise of others.

Most importantly, Punch Newspaper must desist from this outdated mode of profiling politicians not within their political group. It is impossible for everyone to belong to one political movement.

In all, the ill-conceived Punch Newspaper's Editorial of December 1, 2019 is dead on arrival. It is a political effort that has failed like several other negative media campaigns against Governor Wike.

Is now Obvious punch wants Rivers state to be Islamised like South west.


Too bad.

Like it or not Rivers and all south south states are Christian states.
Argue with your phone

Tell them Wike my incredible governor

Why publicly proclaim something that is obvious? Everyone already knew that Rivers is predominantly Christian, but governor Wike unnecessary utterance has done nothing but bury whatever political ambition he might have in the future outside of Rivers state. He can never get elected as president or VP, not in a united Nigeria!!!!

If the Rivers people are not complaining, why is Punch? Why impose a religion on people who have chosen another? I don't understand who or what Punch newspaper is trying to please!

backnbeta:
If the Rivers people are not complaining, why is Punch? Why impose a religion on people who have chosen another? I don't understand who or what Punch newspaper is trying to please!

Punch wants to turn Rivers state to be like their lagos ibadan religious madness.

It's like this Wike is jobless

hisexcellency34:
It's like this Wike is jobless

Jobless for saying the truth.

He is the Christian Governor of Rivers state.

Most bigoted Christians always look to the worse of their society as their saviours, Trump a serial adulterer na their role model, Wike ala cult-lass nigger ala cultism unleashed on River is another of their new saviour. Oga Wike wire on, take religion scam them and chop in peace.

Stalwert:
Most bigoted Christians always look to the worse of their society as their saviours, Trump a serial adulterer na their role model, Wike ala cult-lass nigger ala cultism unleashed on River is another of their new saviour. Oga Wike wire on, take religion scam them and chop in peace.

Your Governor na saint Augustus. Him no dey chop.

Wike is right as his people doesn't practice Islam.

Stop losing sleep on this matter.

[s]

MelesZenawi:


Your Governor na saint Augustus. Him no dey chop.

Wike is right as his people doesn't practice Islam.

Stop losing sleep on this matter.

[/s]

Loose sleep over a cult member that is killing many Christians in his state? That is responsible for the death of a group of Christians who went for night vigil only to be attacked and massacred returning home. I laugh, enjoy your new cult the saviour.

Stalwert:




Loose sleep over a cult member that is killing many Christians in his state? That is responsible for the death of a group of Christians who went for night vigil only to be attacked and massacred returning home. I laugh, enjoy your new cult the saviour.

Boko haram are prophesying in borno state and herdsmen are evangelizing in Oyo state right?


Bandits are doing witnessing and soul winning in Zamfara?


Cultist and cultism are fully domiciled in north and west with soyinka as their founder and god father

We don hear, rivers is a christian state..

But remember what the Bible said, thou shall not steal from the government Treasure..

[s]

MelesZenawi:





Boko haram are prophesying in borno state and herdsmen are evangelizing in Oyo state right?


Bandits are doing witnessing and soul winning in Zamfara?


Cultist and cultism are fully domiciled in north and west with soyinka as their founder and god father

[/s]

With crumbs all things are possible.

The hypocrisy of Punch Newspaper is both nauseating and provocative. To say the least, it is unfortunate. The intent is clear. To pitch Governor Wike against other Nigerians of other faiths, while pretending to be engaged in social advocacy.

And also, to please the fanatic at the helm of afair in Nigeria including the northern elites.

If not, why not allow the sleeping dog to lie

Sirjamo:
Why publicly proclaim something that is obvious? Everyone already knew that Rivers is predominantly Christian, but governor Wike unnecessary utterance has done nothing but bury whatever political ambition he might have in the future outside of Rivers state. He can never get elected as president or VP, not in a united Nigeria!!!!

So na you be God ?

If I may ask you, how relevant are you ?

You must be afobaje (Kings maker) of Nigeria?

Fanatic !!!

Punch and Nation Newspapers are always biased and unprofessional when reporting issues that concern Niger Delta and the PDP. Still wondering who still buys or reads those useless newspapers

Ok

Sirjamo:
Why publicly proclaim something that is obvious? Everyone already knew that Rivers is predominantly Christian, but governor Wike unnecessary utterance has done nothing but bury whatever political ambition he might have in the future outside of Rivers state. He can never get elected as president or VP, not in a united Nigeria!!!!

Yoruba moslem kee yaself, Rivers is a christian state the same way Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos are christian states

Sirjamo:
Why publicly proclaim something that is obvious? Everyone already knew that Rivers is predominantly Christian, but governor Wike unnecessary utterance has done nothing but bury whatever political ambition he might have in the future outside of Rivers state. He can never get elected as president or VP, not in a united Nigeria!!!!

Was nigeria ever United

Ponder on this and you will see the wickedness currently going on in Nigeria.
I will continue to strive within me until Islamic Sharia law is declared all over Nigeria. ~ Gen Buhari 2001 in Kaduna.
One year later in 2002, boko haram was formed fighting for the implementation of Sharia law all over Nigeria.

Zamfara declared Sharia that saw the cutting of hands of poor people in the state, they kept quiet. (Meanwhile corrupt thieves who embezzle billions of state funds like Sani Yarima and Yari have their hands intact).
Kano later follows suit and declared Sharia law in the state, they kept quiet. Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Sokoto, and others totalling 12 northern states went their way against the Nigerian constitution of (Secularism) and declared Islamic Sharia law, everyone kept quiet.
But one state declared itself a Christian state, then all of a sudden every dick and harry is talking against it? Was Sani Yerima, the impositor of sharia law in Zamfara which let to mass cutting of limbs of poor people caught stealing goats right to impose sharia law which is at variance to the constitution? Is it not the same constitution that states any law at conflict with it, the constitution supercede that law and stands supreme? If that is the case, how come Kano hisbah sharia board are harassing and arresting innocent people going about their business in Kano when the police is the only institution vested with the power of arrest? Why is hisbah sharia board attacking and destroying businesses of innocent men and women in 12 northern states via Sharia law? What kind of hypocritical double standard is this? And Benue was almost destroyed by fulani terrorist herders for enacting anti open grazing law to save lives.

If Rivers is not a christian state, then I urge all Christians in Nigeria to institute a suit calling for the total abolishment of Islamic Sharia law in 12 Northern States.
This nonsence is the reason why I support the TOTAL DISNITEGRATION of this useless entity call Nigeria. The era where some people take others for fools is now over!

Those who see nothing wrong in Northern govs declaring Islamic Sharia law in their states in outright violation against the constitution, yet are against Wike declaring Rivers a christian state are Bloody hypocrites that should be ignored.

Yeye Punch. We are not Fulani Slaves. The SE and SS are Christian but more importantly [b]SECULAR [/b]states. Is it not your foolish tabloid rag that published this picture. For those who have not seen it, here is the picture what Punch published on July 4th 2019. And they say Fulanisation of Nigeria is not real.

All Nigerians yarn for is good governance and not hiding under religion to be inefficient, for your home, school,estate office etc cleaning ,prolific giant cleaning services is your best bet,a trial will convince you

[s]

helinues:
Ok

[/s]

JonDon12:
Yeye Punch. We are not Fulani Slaves. The SE and SS are Christian but more importantly [b]SECULAR [/b]states. Is it not your foolish tabloid rag that published this picture. For those who have not seen it, here is the picture what Punch published on July 4th 2019. And they say Fulanisation of Nigeria is not real.

If that book was a quran, thousands of christians would have been slaughtered already. Nigerians should used their heads are judge for themselves which religion is peaceful religion and which is violent.

Sirjamo:
Why publicly proclaim something that is obvious? Everyone already knew that Rivers is predominantly Christian, but governor Wike unnecessary utterance has done nothing but bury whatever political ambition he might have in the future outside of Rivers state. He can never get elected as president or VP, not in a united Nigeria!!!!

I dont think wike cares or bothers about becoming president of nigeria. I like his personality he is not like some southern politicians who are ever ready to sell their people to slavery to the fulani north just to be approved for the presidential office. We need more couragous politicians like him in the south who are ready to protect the political and religious interests of the people of southern Nigeria.