By Mike Adeyemi
The Managing Director and Editor-in- Chief, National Pilot Newspaper, Alhaji Billy Adedamola has stated that the attack on the corporate head office of the medium was politically motivated.
Hoodlums in a large number had invaded premises of the newspaper on Friday and attempted to burn down the newspaper house.
Adedamola stated this yesterday while reacting to the ugly incident of the fateful day.
According to him, “The attacks on the National Pilot Newspaper office demand more questions than answers.
“When we look at the whole scene with all sense of modesty, one can’t divorce the fact that it has political motives. Ours is the only major media house attacked.
“That was what prompted our conclusion that there must have been a political motivation to this attack. We don’t store palliatives in our office. What we do purely is public service.
“So there was no reason whatsoever for anybody to want to attack this place. So for National Pilot Newspaper to have been singled out by those miscreants, it means they were guided by people of opposing political interest,” Adedamola said.
The MD narrated how providence saved the staffers of the medium from the thugs.
“We noticed the massive movement of people who had laid siege on the cargo terminal coming office, which is strategically located. We started to receive threats and I asked the security to lock the gate.
“I had to mobilize my staff to leave whatever they were doing and close for the day. After everybody had left, I had to find my way through back door to my residence.
“Shortly after I had left the office, the attackers made bonfire just opposite our office. After sometime, they moved towards our gate. They wanted to force it open, but they didn’t succeed.
“They vandalized the security post, smashed all the glasses and the security light was removed. They pulled off electrical cables and later decided to set the place ablaze because they came with gasoline, ” the MD explained.
He added the quick intervention of commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists in the area, foiled the attempt by the hoodlums to burn down the media house.
“We have Okada and Marwa parks nearby, these people rose against the attackers and stopped them from burning our office. In the course of the confrontation, two of the tricyclists were injured.
“At the end of the day, they succeeded in preventing the burning down of the building. We thank God that nobody was injured among our staffers.
“We thank the of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for putting calls across to us. We thank prominent Kwarans, friends in the media. We are grateful for their solidarity visit.
“We thank Magaji Nda of Ilorin, and Alhaji Tunde Akanbi for their support. We thank our boss, the former senate president who not only offered words of encouragement , but pledged his support. We equally thank Honorable Rasaq Atunwa, the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, the former MD of National Pilot, Alhaji Yunus Abdulrahman.
“We want to assure our readers, those who believes in us and all Kwarans that we are not going to be fettered by this attacks. Rather it’s going to strengthen us to continue on path of truth,” he further said
Meanwhile, well meaning Nigerians across the globe have continued to show solidarity in support of the medium.
Prominent among them is, the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
In his word: “I just heard about the attack and I was very disturbed. But why, why should anybody want to attack you people. I was happy that no one was hurt.
“I sympathize with you and members of staff and pray Allah will continue to protect you all and we should try to be security conscious in the course of the job,” Saraki advised.
Also, the gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general election, Honourable Rasaq Atunwa described the attacks as disturbing.
“It is very disturbing and worrisome. This is an attack on free press,” Atunwa said.
The immediate speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad condemned the attack on National Pilot in its entirety.
“This attacked is highly condemnable. Why should this medium be attacked? We thank God no life was lost and I pray Allah to continue to protect you and other members of staff.”
Alhaji Isiaka Gold, the immediate past Secretary to the Kwara State Government said he received the news of the attack on National Pilot as a rude shock.
“I continue to wonder what would have been the motivation to lay siege on National Pilot. This is a paper that has been doing a good job. It pains me personally that Pilot could be so targeted.”
The former MD of the medium, Mall. Yunus Abdulrahman described the attack on National Pilot as an affront on the media.
“I received with utmost shock the attack against National Pilot. It is unjustifiable and condemnable. We thank God no life was lost and I pray for continued safety and Allah protection of the staff”, he prayed.
Similarly, a former state Commissioner for Information, who also doubles as the Secretary of International Press Institute (IPI),Raheem Adedoyin described the incident as terrible.
Others personality that showed empathy with National Pilot include, the former Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Shuka Baba who described the attack as unfortunate.
“I sympathize with you over what happened. It is unfortunate, but we thank God no life was lost.”
Hon. Yekini Ilobu, the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former State Governor said there was no basis for the attack.
“We thank God no life was lost. The attack is unfortunate because there is no basis for the attack on a media organization.
“I pray Allah will continue to protect you and other members of the staff. ”
On his part, ‘Demola Banu, the former State Commissioner for Finance said the attacks is condemnable in strong term.
“I heard the disturbing news on attacks on your paper. I condemned this attacks in strongest term. There is no justification for it whatsoever.
“I would urge the security agencies to beef up security not only at your place , but other media houses across the metropolis at this critical period,” Banu said.
The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalist, Kwara State chapter, Umar Abdulwahab also expressed sympathy with the management and staff of National Pilot Newspaper over what he described as unwarranted attacks.
“I thank God that there was no casualties. And I pray Allah continue to protect you,” the NUJ boss said.
