In a statement issued after its emergency meeting in Abuja yesterday and signed by the President of NPAN, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, the newspaper proprietors said the stoppage of newspaper distribution by the military is inconsistent with the values of democracy and freedom of speech.
The text of the statement reads as follows: “The NPAN unequivocally condemns this attack of FREE SPEECH by soldiers, in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Maiduguri, Ibadan amongst other cities, claiming to be acting on “orders”. This assault on FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION through the stoppage of distribution of newspapers is inconsistent with the values of any democratic society and the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. We therefore call upon the military authorities to lift the siege immediately and call the soldiers to order.
“The NPAN notes the statement issued on Friday, June 6, by the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, that newspaper distribution channels may have been infiltrated by some persons to transport “materials with grave security implications.” As citizens and businesses, we take the security of our nation very seriously, and especially condemn the continuing daily destruction of human life by a mindless, cruel and criminal insurgency. We have, at our own instance, engaged various security agencies in the past to find ways of dealing with the security challenges we all face. We shall continue to do so. It is, however, deeply troubling that a siege has been laid to the media for two straight days on a suspicion over which no one consulted the NPAN. We stand ready, able and willing to work with all relevant security agencies to ensure the integrity of the newspapers’ distribution process.
“The NPAN wishes to reassure its readers, partners and the public at large, that it will continue to work to promote peace and unity in The Federal Republic of Nigeria, while defending its constitutional role to hold governments at all levels accountable.
“Finally, we do not believe that given the already tense situation in the country the government or any agency acting in its name, will engage in acts that can only stifle free speech and encourage rumors to fester. We, therefore, welcome the assurances to NPAN leadership by senior security officials to end this unnecessary siege.”
Meanwhile, 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.
In a press statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Saturday, the former Vice President expressed worry at what he called the “humiliating treatment of media houses and vendors in the course of conducting their legitimate businesses nationwide.”
He reminded that Nigeria is a democracy, and freedom of the press is a non-negotiable component of democratic governments.
According to Atiku, 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 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.
The Turaki Adamawa said thousands of Journalists, drivers, distributors, vendors and other support staff are daily making a living from the newspaper industry, and therefore, the military personnel should not stop them from earning a legitimate earning.
The former Vice President also noted that the willful 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 organizations to also demonstrate the highest degree of responsibility by ensuring that what they publish didn’t endanger national security.
In the face of the grim security challenges currently bedeviling Nigeria, the former Vice President also cautioned Journalists and media practitioners against abuses.
He stressed that the war on terror needs citizens’ and press’ cooperation, which may be hampered by the harassment of the press.
