₦airaland Forum

The Presidency has condemned an opinion article published by a national newspaper (not Daily Trust) associating President Muhammadu Buhari with the killings in Benue and calling him a murderer.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made the condemnation when he addressed State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday.

He also frowned at the frequent expressions of hate speech published by some newspapers in form of news stories and especially in columns.

Shehu said: “We want to state emphatically that a segment of the Nigerian media is sinking deeper and deeper into the mesh of hate speech in spite of repeated appeals by recognised and reputable media bodies, the Government and concerned Nigerians.

“Unfortunately, self-regulation which is the norm in civilized societies has taken flight from many of our newsrooms.

“For instance, a recent column published in a national newspaper, said ‘President Muhammadu Buhari was the first to endorse the Benue massacre’ on New Year Day.

“The same columnist described the Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali as ‘‘a dyed-in-the-wool Fulani irredentist who places trade over and above human life’’.

“The diatribe went further to invite citizens of the country to arm themselves and fight each other.

“In addition, one of the newspaper’s Saturday headlines proclaimed: ‘Expect More Blood in Benue…’

“Apart from the basic tone of respect expected from an individual who is supposedly intelligent and educated enough to know better since they have been granted space to write in a national newspaper, there is the risk of inciting the public to actions that will have gory consequences for the entire nation for generations to come.

“Those beating the gongs of war and fanning the embers of discord must remember what prevailed in Rwanda before the genocide of the early `90s, during which hundreds of thousands of lives were lost as a result of consistent hate speech spewing from that country’s media.’’

The presidential aide, however, stated that President Buhari, by the Constitution, had the primary duty of protecting life and property of all citizens irrespective of their geo-political backgrounds, adding “that is what he has been doing in Benue and across the country.’’

Shehu stated that calling the president a murderer was not only grossly disrespectful but unfair.

He said: “Calling him a murderer is not only grossly disrespectful but unfair, especially when the President has written a letter to the Senate detailing his efforts to quell the crisis in Benue State.’’

He further noted that the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations were also dispatched for an on the spot assessment of the situation in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident.

The presidential spokesman stated that the president had also been receiving a direct briefing from the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim on the matter.

He therefore reminded the Nigeria press of its constitutional responsibility of promoting peaceful coexistence among the diverse socio-ethnic groups in the country through fair and balance reportage.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/president-buhari-not-a-murderer-presidency.html

Make una leave story, Baba should visit Benue State.

madridguy:
K

What is K? For Killer?

If I hear...

K for Jan Koller

Cletus77:
What is K?
For Killer?

Buhari is a tribalist!! Someone who keeps mute when the citizens are being slaughtered and orders their arrest wen they defend themselves should be called a Vampire!!!

madridguy:
K for Jan Koller

What is Jan Koller at dis tym of d night?

Google is your friend

Cletus77:
What is Jan Koller at dis tym of d night?

madridguy:
Google is your friend

Who is laughing wit you?

Cletus77:
Who is laughing wit you?

madridguy:
Make una leave story, Baba should visit Benue State.

No more sai baba asslicking? Why should baba visit by Benue?

Sai Baba dole ni.

Cletus77:
No more sai baba asslicking? Why should baba visit by Benue?

madridguy:

No go sleep.. o.... follow sai baba like MTn. Come dey shine teeth dis night..... Jan Koller fall on you dier!!!

madridguy:
Sai Baba dole ni.

Because its ur state, Baba should visit abi? Ntoor!!! We are all in dis together

Leave politics out of this. We're talking about human.

Cletus77:
Because its ur state, Baba should visit abi?
Ntoor!!! We are all in dis together

madridguy:
Leave politics out of this. We're talking about human.

Oohoo..... So humans live in Benue only abi?

President Muhammadu Buhari is a murderer, quote me any day

If the shoe fits, wear it proudly.

Buhari was swift to send crocodile smiles to Niger delta
Quick to send operation python to SE and river state

But that swift quickness was no where for his fulani Herdsmen.

Funny both ND militants and IPOB did not kill a soul but dare fulani Herdsmen have murdered over 183 people last month alone.

Abeg when the shoe fits, tell buhari to wear it proudly. He is indeed a murderer and a racist bigot. Noone lied on him

Buhari is an illiterate mass murderer like Murtala Ramat Muhammed. Obama forced Buhari a man without GCE O’level on us. Buhari the herdsman has murdered sleep and he won’t know peace till he is sent back to Daura on a one way ticket

Yes Buhari government is filled with murderers that have shed so much blood.

Buhary is a confirmed vampire leading a terrorist organization called APC.

Then what is he? A killer?