Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, has denied a report that he assaulted a journalist at his ward in Akure North Local Council, during the conduct of Saturday’s primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
An online publication had alleged in a report that the commissioner assaulted Mr. Tayo Ikujuni of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Yusuf-Ogunleye, who was addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre in Alagbaka, Akure, said he was amazed by the publication, noting that his role was perverted from that of a peacemaker to the aggressor.
“When the said journalist complained that his phone was snatched by some political thugs, I, in concert with other party chieftains around, intervened and his phone was retrieved but he later said he was molested when I left the scene.
“There was no cause for any clash between me and him whatsoever and I wonder how such a damaging report was made against me”, the Commissioner, who is also the Director-General of Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) clarified.
Yusuf-Ogunleye, however, on the occasion apologised to the concerned journalist regarding the fate the latter suffered, but stressed that he was not at the scene of the skirmish but only came to resolve the dispute when he was told about it.
He added that he holds journalists in high esteem and would never do anything to undermine them.
Ikujuni, the affected journalist, was present while the commissioner explained his side of the story and it was not controverted by the former.
The NUJ chairman, Ondo State Council, Mr. Leke Adegbite thus thanked the commissioner for honouring the council’s invitation consequent to the incident.
The commissioner and the affected journalist, immediately after, held each other in warm embrace.
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua,
State Information Director,
LACO-FSIC