HOW NOT TO MUZZLE THE NIGERIAN PRESS:
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa
Executive Director, Centre For Equity And Eradication of Rural Poverty.
25th April, 2017
When we were growing up and passing through various schools, we were told and made to believe that the Press is the mirror and conscience of the society.
In adulthood, those teachings have become more practical than theoretical. This is especially more in public leadership where individuals are expected to adhere to set out norms of public service code.
A public servant would always be mindful of what the Press can do should he deviate from the ethics of public service.
Without the Press, especially a fearless but responsible one, the human society would be a total calamity. Conscience would be suppressed and lost.
Even during the tyrannical days of the Nigerian Military, it was the Nigerian Press that consistently fought against its draconian tendencies and disposition.
One of the reasons why Nigerians rejected Gen Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011 was the apprehension that being a former military dictator, he would stand in strong opposition against the tide of democracy.
In 2015, he was, however, given the benefit of the doubt. Whether the much feared dictatorial traits in him are still evident or otherwise would be a subject of discourse for another day.
But yesterday, Monday 24th April, 2017 an incident that was similar to the Buhari era of fascism played out in Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The Chief Security Officer of Mr President; Bashiru Abubarkar, crudely withdrew the accreditation of the Correspondent of Punch Newspaper, Olalekan Adetayo. Having done that, he walked him out of the Villa.
Adetayo's only offence arose from his write-up last Sunday, in which he raised alarm, I mean anxiety, over the State of health of President Buhari.
According to him, which is no secret to Nigerians, the President, since his return from the United Kingdom on March 10 on medical vacation, has hardly been seen in public functions except on Fridays when he manages to appear in the Jum'at prayers in the Villa. He went further to say that most of the presidential duties have been delegated to the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo.
Is this enough justification for the Chief Security Officer to withdraw the accreditation of a Journalist? Who, in Nigeria, does not know that the President is, indeed and regrettably, sick. As Nigerian citizens, we are praying for our President to fully recuperate and live up to his constitutional responsibilities for which he was voted and for which also he is very heavily paid.
Wednesdays are set out for meetings of the Federal Executive Council which the President presides over.
On Wednesday 12th April, 2017 the President did not attend the Executive Council meeting. It was the Vice President that presided over the meeting. The reason Nigerians were given for his absence was that the items on the agenda for the meeting were not so serious that his Vice could not handle. I hope this reason was not derisive!
The next Wednesday was 19th April. On this day, the meeting could not hold at all. Reason for a whole Federal Executive Council; Nigeria's highest policy-making body, not to convene was equally laughable. The Easter holidays, as we were told, made it impossible for the Executive Council Secretariat to despatch Minutes of the previous FEC meeting to Members of FEC. Oh Nigeria!
Many Nigerians are of the belief that President Buhari is being held hostage by a selfish and heartless Cabal in the Presidency. The Cabal only wants the physical presence of Mr President in the Villa, whether seen or unseen, in order to maximize its exploits of power.
The Cabal is not interested in the good health of the President as long as it is able to achieve its hidden goals.
Nigerians did not vote for Buhari to be held hostage. We did not vote for him to be estranged and incommunicado. He was not voted for so that his duties would be delegated on a near permanent basis.
Centre For Equity And Eradication Of Rural Poverty strongly advocates that our President be retrieved from the Cabal and flown back to the United Kingdom for continuation of his medical treatment. Every Nigerian should be concerned about the health of our President.
In addition, even though the Director-General of Department of State Service; Mallam Lawal Daura, had restored the accreditation of the Punch Correspondent, the bestial conduct of the Chief Security Officer is one that Nigerians will not like to hear again. The Press should not be muzzled for whatever reason.
Executive Director