Military clampdown on the media is a sad reminder of dark military dictatorship days, Lagos State House of Assembly has said.
Hon. Moshood Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, raised the issue on Tuesday, at House’s plenary, under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance”. He expressed bitterness over the recent attack on some vendors, condemning the action as undemocratic.
He argued that attacking vendors was not a solution and could be viewed as an attempt to muzzle the press, adding that if anyone has a grievance against any published item; such one should seek redress in court.
“The clampdown on the press takes us back to the military era,” Oshun said.
He charged the leadership of the Military to put a halt to attacks on the press with immediate effect.
Another lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo stressed the importance of letting the army understand that Nigeria is in a democracy and not a military junta, adding that as their action amount to abuse of office. He enjoined the House to write to the National Assembly over the issue.
Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, reminded the Federal Government and the Military that nobody fights the media and wins no matter how highly placed such a person is. He recalled the futile efforts by military administrators to muzzle the press in the past, noting that attempt to force them aground would result in guerrilla journalism which would be more embarrassing to the government.
Still under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Hon. Razak Balogun took the attention of the House to the demise of Professor Dora Akunyili, the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), saying she was a great Nigerian who put in her best for the nation.
Thereafter, Ikuforiji commiserated with the bereaved family of the woman, on behalf of the House.
“We are proud of her and her contributions to the nation’s growth,” Ikuforiji said. “Nigeria would never forget her.”
Dr. Rasaq Balogun described the late Akunyili as an achiever who fought the menace of fake drugs that was taking over the country headlong. He recalled her efforts and those of her team to resuscitate the trust of patients in doctors who were seen as been incompetent because most of the recommended drugs turned out to be counterfeit at that time.
Balogun said the late Professor of Pharmacology was able to standardise the quality of drugs to avoid avoidable deaths. Another House member, Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, described late Akunyili as an extraordinary amazon and a virtuous woman of noble character, who was able to sensitise people on the proper use and abuse of drugs.
A minute silence was thereafter observed in her honour.
