₦airaland Forum

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to
President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adeshina,
has said that the relationship between the media
and Federal Government will have a facelift as
Government guarantees sincerity in commitment
to upholding press freedom.
Adeshina stated this at the public presentation of
the first two volumes of a book entitled, “Nigerian
Media Leaders: Voices beyond the Newsroom, “
written by Mr Richard Ikiebe held at the Eko Hotel
and Suites, Lagos. He said that President
Muhammadu Buhari recognised the media as an
ally and a critical partner in nation building, and
was in the know that without collaborating with the
press, government’s developmental agenda would
not have proper visibility.
Speaking, he said, “The former military ruler, who
had enacted Decree 4, meant to gag and shackle
the press in the performance of its legitimate
duties, is now a converted democrat, and
champion of freedom of that same press, seeing
the institution as a vital building block in national
development.
President Muhammadu Buhari, has turned full
circle to see the media as allies, critical partners in
the quest to build a worthy new Nigeria, a country
that can hold its head high in the comity of
nations. “The Nigerian media has always played
critical roles at different epochs in the history of
the country.
We can recall the roles played by Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Ikoli, Anthony Enahoro,
Mokwugo Okoye, and many others, in the march
towards political independence, using the
instrumentality of the media.” Adeshina said.
The presidential aide confirmed that Buhari’s
democratic convictions have also come with a
realization, understanding and appreciation of the
roles of a free media in the evolution of a new
Nigeria, while asking for the right hand of
fellowship of the media.
However, Adeshina assured media practitioners of
Federal Government’s sincerity by striving to
engender an environment that encourages
freedom of the press. He however, bemoans the
unforeseen manner at which some quarters of
media demonstrated what he calls “efficacy of the
Nigeria media, which despite all the temptations
to bend narratives and propagate untruths, still
lent itself as a platform for the expression of the
masses’ voice.”
“This government would appreciate such
constructive criticisms, and so does not seek a
media that is in bed with officialdom, but desires one that is a partner, not a forsworn adversary.”
He said. While commending the author , he said
that Richard Ikiebe has written books which
promises to be a significant milestone in the
annals of journalism in Nigeria.
The chairman of the occasion and former
Chairman of Punch Newspapers, Chief Ajibola
Ogunshola, commended the School of Media
Communication, Nigerian Guild of Editors who are
the sponsors and also thanked the author Richard
Ikiebe for writing such a book that covers 50 years
of journalism practice in Nigeria.
He said, “Richard has given us template for media
practice to follow with examples in the volume 1
and 2. Others volumes of the book to come, as
confided to me by him, will be dedicated to media
scholars and primary stakeholders in media
industry.”
Earlier in their remarks, Gbenga Adefaye,
Vanguard’s GM and former Chairman Nigeria Guild
of Editors, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay
Newspapers and Chairman, Advisory Board of
CleJ, all stressed in same voice,the importance of
media and need for proper documentation of the
history of the journalism profession.
They also lauds the School of Media and
Communication, Pan Atlantic University and
Centre for Leadership in Journalism (CLeJ) and
earnestly canvassed support for CLeJ and its
initiatives. In the same vein, The Vice Chancellor,
Pan Atlantic University, Prof. Juan Elegido
emphasized that more efforts should be put on
professional practice in journalism which
according to him, perhaps, from 40 years from
now, people will be talking about the impact of the
book.
Dignitaries at the occasion are Chief Ajibola
Ogunshola, former Chairman, Punch Newspapers,
Aremu Olusegun Osoba, former Governor, Ogun
State; Sam Amuka, Publisher Vanguard
Newspapers, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser
(Media) to President Muhammadu Buhari; Dr.
Doyin Abiola, former chairman, rested Concord
Newspapers, Haruna Muhammed, Publisher New
Nigerian Newspapers, ; Frank Aigbogun, Publisher,
BusinessDay Newspapers; Gbenga Adefaye,
General Manager /Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard
Newspapers; Ray Ekpu, Sonny and Betty Irabor;
Others are Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National
Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress,
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Prof. Juan Elegido,
Vice Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, Vincent
Maduka; Christopher Kolade ,Clem Baiye and
many others.






www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/buhari-upholds-press-freedom/

Cc: Seun, Lalasticlala, Omenka, Beremix, TonyeBarcanista, Firefire, Pa Chukwudi44, atlwireles, efilefun, anonimi, eleko, Passingshot, Ngeneukwenu, Keneking

It is non negotiable

Wonderful!


“The former military ruler, who had enacted Decree 4, meant to gag and shackle the press in the performance of its legitimate duties, is now a converted democrat, and champion of freedom of that same press, seeing the institution as a vital building block in national development".


When will Buhari apologise for the 1983 coup and the disruption of democracy in Nigeria ?

bugari and press freedom shouldn't be on the same sentence

F

Firefire:
Wonderful!


“The former military ruler, who had enacted Decree 4, meant to gag and shackle the press in the performance of its legitimate duties, is now a converted democrat, and champion of freedom of that same press, seeing the institution as a vital building block in national development".


When will Buhari apologise for the 1983 coup and the disruption of democracy in Nigeria ?

Why shld he?

Firefire:
Wonderful!


“The former military ruler, who had enacted Decree 4, meant to gag and shackle the press in the performance of its legitimate duties, is now a converted democrat, and champion of freedom of that same press, seeing the institution as a vital building block in national development".


When will Buhari apologise for the 1983 coup and the disruption of democracy in Nigeria ?

He is today an advocate of press freedom and that is what matters. Nigerians no longer care about what decree he enacted in the past. This is 2015 and not 1983. We elected him as president because of what he stands for today and not what he did or did not in 1983.

Story! Story!!

Hope the freedom will stop his boys from arresting those listening to Radio Biafra or those with Radio Biafra app on their phone? Liars!

IPOB Youth

hinwazaka:
Well his past records speak volumes of his future antecedents. And also, his recent actions show that he may not have turned a new leaf. If he is so refined, then why is his spokesman trying to reassure Nigerians on this same issue. And when you say Nigerians no longer care, you might want to change that to "YOU AND YOUR TRIBE DON'T CARE". And you voted him, not all Nigerians.

At the part in bold, I actually meant to say majority of reasonable Nigerians and not bigoted minds who still think GEJ is an alternative.

seunmsg:
At the part in bold, I actually meant to say majority of reasonable Nigerians and not bigoted minds who still think GEJ is an alternative.

Agreed. majority of Nigerians have moved on.

buhari himself said he is not a different person from the dictator in the 80's but he came into leadership through a different process.

I wonder why people are sticking out their neck for him

Old sheep