The patriarch of the Omatseye family in Warri, Delta State, Prof. Jim Nesin Omatseye, has appealed to those displeased with the article titled “Obi-tuary by Sam Omatseye” to discard threats to harm their son.
Omatseye noted that Nigerians are in dire need of positive change, stating that the negative reactions generated by the article published on August 1, were as a direct result of the high level of poverty, insecurity and other menaces facing the nation.
He said it was not out of place for people to disagree with a journalist’s point of view, pointing out the writer, like every other person, was entitled to his opinion.
“I want to react to the negative reaction that is coming from many quarters as a result of the article ‘obi-tuary,’ which was written by Sam Omatseye, who is a member of my family,” Omatseye said. “The reaction that is trailing that publication, I believe, it’s as a result of what is happening in the country; the state of insecurity, the high level of poverty, the suffering of so many people. And as a result of this, people are looking for change, whether from the right or from the left.”
Omatseye added that “The regular parties have people who have disappointed a lot of people in the country as a result of these challenges and people are looking for a change.
“Whatever it is that Sam has written, it’s his personal opinion to which he is entitled. But he should not be threatened by anyone because he’s doing his job as a journalist.
“It is not all the time that what journalists say, everybody agrees with. Therefore, we want to say, from the perspective of the family, that he should not be threatened or harmed by anyone.
“We plead with the public and those who disagree with him, to not do anything that will be detrimental to him.”
