Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the clampdown on media houses, vendors and seizures of newspapers in transit for delivery by military personnel nationwide.
According to a statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku expressed worry at what he described as the humiliating treatment of media houses and vendors in the course of conducting their legitimate businesses nationwide.
He reminded the perpetrators of such clampdown that Nigeria is a democracy, and freedom of the press is a nonnegotiable component of democratic governments. He said since the military is not above the law in any democratic society, they should not be the law onto themselves and recklessly infringe on the rights of other citizens.
He explained that if the newspapers are engaged in any illegal activities that breach national security, there are avenues of dealing with such situation without brazenly violating the rights of citizens.
Atiku explained that thousands of Journalists, drivers, distributors, vendors and other support staff are daily making a living from the newspaper industry, and therefore, the Military should not stop them from making legitimate earnings.
He noted that the wilful violations of citizens’ rights by Military and other security personnel breach the tenets of democratic system.
He warned that by attacking the press, and arresting journalists, the country may inadvertently be slowing edging back to the dark days of military dictatorship, which took a lot of sacrifices by many including the press to end.
While condemning the excesses of the military, however, Atiku advised media organisations to also demonstrate the highest degree of responsibility by ensuring that what they publish didn’t endanger national security. He stressed that the war on terror needs citizens’ and press’ cooperation, which may be hampered by the harassment of the press.
“The military and other security personnel should work harmoniously together in times of national crises. Security requires sacrifices and understanding from all Nigerians, and the press are no exception,” Atiku said.
“Our media men and women should at every turn, weigh the implications of everything they intend to publish, especially sensitive stories that could undermine national security.”
