Press Freedom Day: Buhari, Dogara task journalists on survival of democracy

…Gov Bello, HRW speak on free press
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, stressed that the media is vital to national development, and the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.

Besides, Buhari pledged an unfettered environment for media practitioners to do their work in the country, saying that journalists owed the nation a duty to reciprocate with fairness, justice in their reportage for national interest at all times.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, (Media and Publicity), Mr Femi Adesina, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3.

Reflecting on this year’s theme; “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”, the President re-affirmed his commitment to an atmosphere in which the media is free from harassment or any form of attack in the exercise of the profession, within the ambit of the law.

Buhari said, “The media can count on us to keep our words, but we also want to be fairly reported. The media should hold ethics of the noble profession sacrosanct, and be wary of those bent on causing disaffection in the country.

“The world is in the throes of animosities generated by fake news and hate speech, often spawned by some media, particularly the digital variant called social media.

“On this World Press Freedom Day, those involved in the negative antics should reflect, and ponder on how some countries have been thrown into tailspin by irresponsible use of the media. We have no other country than Nigeria, and what we make of it is what we get.

“As we approach general elections next year, let our journalists resolve to report the process fairly and without bias, irrespective of who is involved. That would be the very essence of World Press Freedom Day”.

For his part, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, expressed solidarity with the Nigerian press on World Press Freedom Day, describing free press as necessary ingredient of democracy.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, Dogara decried rising violence and killings across the country as threat to press freedom and democracy.

He underscored the importance of the media in promoting democracy and the rule of law and stated that unhindered press must be encouraged to guarantee right to information.

He said, “As watchdog of the society and fourth estate of the realm, the media plays a pivotal role in protecting and promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“Journalists must also tell the right stories, especially those that promote unity, peace and harmony as well as stand up for the right to truth.

“This is more important now that we inch towards the 2019 general elections’’

Commenting on the theme of 2018 celebration, “Keeping power in check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law,” the Speaker urged media practitioners to be objective, fair and balanced in their reportage, editorials and other decisions.

He assured that the National Assembly will continue to partner and support the media in guaranteeing free press including the safety of journalists through the instrumentality of the legislature, as practiced in other countries.

Similarly, Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, in his message said that the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria depends on the level of freedom of the press.

A statement issued by Malam Jibrin Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in Minna, the state capital, quoted Bello as saying that freedom of speech and information were fundamental rights of individuals that cannot be trampled with.

“The freedom of the press is not negotiable in any civilised society. I commend the effort and contributions of the press to national development.

“Nigeria’s struggles before and after independence as well as during the military era will not have been successful without the patriotic support of the press.

“As an undisputable fourth estate of the realm, the press must continue to exercise its freedom with every sense of social responsibility and set agenda for the political and economic reconstruction of the country’’, he said.

The governor reiterated that his administration would continue to accept constructive criticism from members of the press but called for fairness and objectivity while criticising the government.

“You can criticize my government. I have no issue with that but in doing so, you must be constructive, fair and balanced in the overall interest of the people, progress and development of the state”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that Governments across the world have continued to suppress media through censorship or even arrests of journalists on dubious grounds, a prominent human rights watchdog.

HRW in its message to mark Press Freedom Day, noted that “governments the world over want to control the media – without an inconveniently free press, officials find it easier to do what they want.

“There are many ways to suppress the media, all of which encourage self-censorship. Dozens of countries jail journalists on dubious grounds of protecting national security,” HRW stated.

It said that if the governments failed to exert pressure by legal means, they “try threats, violence, imprisonment, or murder”.

“It’s not only in war zones and dictatorships that journalists take risks to hold those in power to account. “And independent media are fundamental not only to a well-functioning democracy, but to anyone who wants to know whether tap water is safe for your kids to drink, if veterans are getting proper medical care.

“So today, stand up for a free press”, the watchdog said.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs in 2017, as harassment and attacks on journalists have been on the rise.

Although the numbers of deaths are slightly down from last year’s total of 93, the IFJ cautioned that an unprecedented number of journalists were jailed in 2017, with more than 250 still in prison.