barcanista:
the General's never meant "ban" literarily, he actyally mean the law will take it cause. It is not about stiffling, its about bringing offenders of the law to book. If they publish malicious article, they should be able to defend their publication or face the law. This to me is how societies are run. We have existing laws. Even the FOI is restrictive, some information can't be divulged to the Press or any citizen.

Amya:


You can't arrest or arraign in a tort/civil matter. When your rights have been breached you just sue.

Amya:


Everywhere in the world, public officers sue media houses for defamation everyday. But as I said earlier, it's harder for a public officer to prove it. So most times, you don't bother on a frivolous lawsuit but just grin and bear it. Jonathan has been slandered and libelled a million times, how many people has he taken to court? how many Media houses has he banned? Having a thick skin is one of mark of a leader. Obama has been defamed, how many media houses has he closed down or banned?

The truth is while democracy like all things in life has a down side (like taking the freedom of speech to a whole new level, what we witness online and offline everyday) In the end, it's the lesser evil to dictatorship. You simply cannot be a dictator in a democracy, that's like eating your cake and having it.

barcanista:
We have to be sincere with ourselves. You don't expect a public official to sue journalists and media houses and demand damages. What kind of message does that send to the public? Whatever is written of a public officer maliciously is beyond defamation because it is capable of not just tarnishing the image of the subject but could disrupt the smooth running of the government and create an environment of anarchy, which in itself is a crime. I gave you example of the thread on minimah, that article could cause unrest, distrust in the Army and also could make people lose faith in the electoral process. A public officer is not just a private citizen. Where have you seen a public officer sue for damages? It doesn't happen that way! If the journalist and the medium decide to retract the earlier misinformation, it is welcomed. They just need to be ethical, that's all!!!!!

Amya:


Please rather spend time swimming nowhere in ignorance, kindly peruse the laws of Nigeria and the constitution and know what constitutes an offence, a crime or a civil action.

I'm a Jonathan supporter, but when he goofs, rather than try to cover up for him, I just keep my mouth shut. Learn to do the same.

kelvinginzie:
@Barcanista,judging from your very weak defence of Pa buhari,you are supppsed to be in kirikiri prison,for all the insults,and slanders,you have made against GEJ.
Since freedom of speech is a distraction to government-Pa BUHARI

VOTE WISELY MY PEOPLE.

APContherun:

When you ban a media outfit for publishing what you consider embarrassing without recourse to the rule of law, that's an attack on press freedom. I'm surprised with all your sophistication you support this. Who is even a public official that he can't be embarrassed if he's deserving?

barcanista:
My Dear, you are the one swimming in Ignorance. Why did Egypt arrest Aljazeera Journalists? Why not publish false material against the Israeli Government or PM? Why not do that in the Emirate or KSA? Are we more democratic than Israel? There are publications you will make in the US, you will be invited for questioning. We have to be sincere. A government officer is different from just a private citizen. False report against officials is capable of causing panic, anarchy and even unrest. What lead to the breakdown of law and order in Gabon of recent? A report that the President is from Nigeria made people to come out to demand the fall of that government. Stop being emotional plsssssss

barcanista:
My Dear, you are the one swimming in Ignorance. Why did Egypt arrest Aljazeera Journalists? Why not publish false material against the Israeli Government or PM? Why not do that in the Emirate or KSA? Are we more democratic than Israel? There are publications you will make in the US, you will be invited for questioning. We have to be sincere. A government officer is different from just a private citizen. False report against officials is capable of causing panic, anarchy and even unrest. What lead to the breakdown of law and order in Gabon of recent? A report that the President is from Nigeria made people to come out to demand the fall of that government. Stop being emotional plsssssss

Amya:


Please rather spend time swimming nowhere in ignorance, kindly peruse the laws of Nigeria and the constitution and know what constitutes an offence, a crime or a civil action.

I'm a Jonathan supporter, but when he goofs, rather than try to cover up for him, I just keep my mouth shut. Learn to do the same.

barcanista:
point of correction, Not what "he considers embarrassin" but what is actually false and embarrassing, and with recourse to the provisions of the law. I don't support gagging of the press, I support ethical journalism

Amya:
I'm not being emotional. All the countries you named have their own rule of law. For some, defamation is more or less like treason. But study your own laws and find out yourself if defamation can amount to ban of media houses . Or are you advising Buhari to go against the law?

APContherun:

The pig of a dictator doesn't know that press freedom is an essential element of democracy. It's very necessary for the sustenance of democracy. Aside competing strong political parties, periodic else took and independent judiciary it's propably the most essential. A strong and unhindered press keeps the govt on its toes and ensures it's doesn't descend into dictatorship.

Buhari needs to know that democracy has survived in the US, UK, France, Germany etc not just because old generals were called out to save the country in times of trouble but because the press was allowed and encouraged to flourish.

barcanista:
We have existing laws, we sure do. President Buhari will not manufacture laws from the mars nor use executive fiat. You should be more concerned with ethical journalism and the provisions of relevant laws rather than this position you are holding. In every profession there is code of conduct, in journalism we have BON, we have Press Council these two bodies regulate the practice of Journalism as established by the law. We also have Private Associations, all these groups are against unethical practice. See, I will never side illegality, we should be sincere and not emotional. Where were you when Jonathan banned Aljazeera from Nigeria? Where were you when Israel banned PressTV? Where were you when Uk suspended PressTV? Where were you? You have to be sincere. Journalist must be ethical or be made to face the law. No one stop them from doing their jobs, they must do so ethically.

Amya:


Please rather spend time swimming nowhere in ignorance, kindly peruse the laws of Nigeria and the constitution and know what constitutes an offence, a crime or a civil action.

I'm a Jonathan supporter, but when he goofs, rather than try to cover up for him, I just keep my mouth shut. Learn to do the same.

barcanista:
I don't know why people are misrepresenting and twisting the words of Gen Muhammadu Buhari. As a citizen I am 100% in support of Press freedom, so is the General. However, freedom of the Press shouldn't be absolute otherwise they will be used to cause anarchy. If the press have anything against any public officer and they are really sure about it, they should publish it and allow for Government prosecution. They have to be sure and not gossip or be used to persecute officers on the pages of newspapers. However, false reportage using "our source" that will neither give a lead nor help a cause, and also fabricating news and ascribing to public officers should not only be discouraged but should be criminalised. The Whistle Blower act should be passed/strenghtened to protect those with valuable information. The Press needs to carry their jobs with ethics and checks like other professions. All arms of government have forms of checks and balance. We need to protect government officers too from false and malicious embarrassment.

Obinoscopy:
I sincerely hope freedom of the press and the social media will not be removed if Buhari wins.

barcanista:
I don't know why people are misrepresenting and twisting the words of Gen Muhammadu Buhari. As a citizen I am 100% in support of Press freedom, so is the General. However, freedom of the Press shouldn't be absolute otherwise they will be used to cause anarchy. If the press have anything against any public officer and they are really sure about it, they should publish it and allow for Government prosecution. They have to be sure and not gossip or be used to persecute officers on the pages of newspapers. However, false reportage using "our source" that will neither give a lead nor help a cause, and also fabricating news and ascribing to public officers should not only be discouraged but should be criminalised. The Whistle Blower act should be passed/strenghtened to protect those with valuable information. The Press needs to carry their jobs with ethics and checks like other professions. All arms of government have forms of checks and balance. We need to protect government officers too from false and malicious embarrassment.

barcanista:
I don't know why people are misrepresenting and twisting the words of Gen Muhammadu Buhari. As a citizen I am 100% in support of Press freedom, so is the General. However, freedom of the Press shouldn't be absolute otherwise they will be used to cause anarchy. If the press have anything against any public officer and they are really sure about it, they should publish it and allow for Government prosecution. They have to be sure and not gossip or be used to persecute officers on the pages of newspapers. However, false reportage using "our source" that will neither give a lead nor help a cause, and also fabricating news and ascribing to public officers should not only be discouraged but should be criminalised. The Whistle Blower act should be passed/strenghtened to protect those with valuable information. The Press needs to carry their jobs with ethics and checks like other professions. All arms of government have forms of checks and balance. We need to protect government officers too from false and malicious embarrassment.

Amya:


I'm not being emotional. All the countries you named have their own rule of law. For some, defamation is more or less like treason. But study your own laws and find out yourself if defamation can amount to ban of media houses . Or are you advising Buhari to go against the law?

customized13:
I simply don't understand why we will endorse this extremist.

Vig86:
Nigerians are blind and wicked to themselves. Vote Buhari and suffer. He will ban tweeter, facebook, whatsApp then we all go back to 1960s. Wicked people.

mikolo80:
France UK and USa developed over 400years with press freedom(plenty grammar) while china Korea Singapore and Malaysia(limited press) did same in 30. Your choice

ps he only said they must have proof not just allegations with no evidence only for them to recant in one small corner of their papers after damaging the public officials image and integrity with rumours and names withheld nonsense journalism

APContherun:

Does the govt in a democracy have the right to ban a journalist/ media outfit for lying against a public official without recourse to the court? No. That's where Buhari got it wrong. It doesn't matter if you feel the media outfit doesn't have enough proof for its claim, what matters most is how you react to it afterwards. And banning is not the way to go in a democracy run on laws.

APContherun:

There's what is called national interest which must be protected at all cost. I'm disappointed you can't differentiate that from "an embarrassment to a public official". No nation can allow its interest to be undermined and that's what led Nigeria into banning al-jazeera, UK and Israel to Press TV.

But an embarrassment to a public official? Cmon mehn why should Buhari ban me for what he considers embarrassing when he should sue me for defamation and claim damages?

Amya:


You can't arrest or arraign in a tort/civil matter. When your rights have been breached you just sue.

lyntiffany:
Look at who is talking, just like you have been displaying the ethics on nairaland.Like Buhari, like supporter

CFCfan:

You must be a lawyer or law student. You've raised some salient points, but there are situations where press freedom is limited. For instance, it's a crime to publish leaked, classified info in the US. The US government can prosecute anyone found to have leaked classified national security info.