The attention of the Presidency has
been drawn to stories in some major newspapers today Saturday 7th June 2014 to
the effect that the Federal Government has ordered a clampdown on Media Houses
as a result of some isolated incidents of security checks reportedly carried
out on some newspaper delivery vans in the last few days.
The news publications suggested that
President Goodluck Jonathan might have ordered that the Media be suppressed and
prevented from carrying out their constitutionally guaranteed responsibilities
of holding Government accountable to the people.
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| DR DOYIN OKUPE |
We wish to state categorical that
these reports are untrue, unfair and totally not in consonance with the posture
of Mr President on issues concerning Press freedom.
The Media, as the fourth estate of
the realm is held in very high regards by the President and this has been
practically demonstrated in various ways by this administration in the last
three years.
Gentlemen of the Press will recall
that it was President Goodluck Jonathan who signed the very contentious Freedom
of Information Bill into law immediately on assumption of office and has
consistently espoused the principles of openness , accountability and
liberalism in its relationship with the Media at all times.
The reported incidence of checks
being carried out by the Military on major Nigerian roads and cities is not
targeted at Newspaper vans because of the contents of the publications as
insinuated in the reports. Rather, the Military had explained that those
routine checks were being carried out following intelligence reports on the
possibility of some elements within the society using such vehicles to convey
"materials with grave security implications across the country".
While we sympathize with Media
Houses which might have suffered one discomfort or the other as a result of
these security checks, we assert , for the avoidance of doubt that the
President has not and will never give any order capable of hampering the smooth
running of any Media Organization or harass Media practitioners in the lawful
performance of their duties.
This government will neither engage
in nor encourage any acts that will constitute an assault on any Media
Organization or infringe on the Freedom of the Press.
We have received assurances from the
Military that no personal liberties of Media practitioners or their employees
will not be unlawfully tampered with and that as soon as there is significant reduction
in the level of the security alert, the ongoing exercise will be relaxed.
We live in very trying times which
may necessitate that some section or sectors of the society might experience
some temporary discomfort in the overall interest of ensuring that the ideals
of freedom , peace and security which we all hold dear will not be compromised
by a few unscrupulous elements in our midst.
Thank
You
Dr DOYIN OKUPE
Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Public Affairs
