PDP House Of Representatives’ Caucus
Press Release
–
The Peoples Democratic Party Caucus in the Federal House of
Representatives has expressed very deep concerns over President-Elect,
General Mohammadu Buhari’s ban on African Independent Television (AIT)
from covering his activities at the Defence House in Abuja.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Caucus noted that
while it abides by the Peoples Democratic Party’s decision not to
insult or denigrate the office of the President the way the All
Progressive Congress (APC) did against President Goodluck Jonathan, it
is deeply concerned about the anti-mass media disposition that
culminated into AIT’s ban, and its far reaching implications for
democratic freedom under the coming Buhari Presidency.
“Except for the utterly obnoxious Decree 4 which the military
dictatorship under the same General Buhari once foisted on Nigeria,
nothing in the laws of the federation and international protocols to
which Nigeria has subscribed, prohibits media freedom under any
circumstance.
Contending that such ban as announced by the President-Elect’s media
aide, Mallam Garba Shehu last weekend negates democratic ideals,
including freedom of expression and the holding of divergent opinions,
the Caucus noted with chuckles the All Progressives Congress (APC)
decision to quickly reverse the controversial decision on Tuesday: “Is
this a sign of worse things to come?
While we do not hold brief for any media organization, well-meaning
people expect that rather
than begin on a wrong footing by signaling a keenness to go to war
against the mass media, even before being sworn in; the
President-elect and the APC should be democratic, tolerant non-
impulsive and matured with the option of taking any media organization
that has committed any infraction or breach of professional ethics
before the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) or the law
courts for appropriate sanctions.
A society in which any individual freely chooses to exercise
far-reaching powers beyond the force of a court’s summary trial, or
one in which each angry person resorts to ‘an eye for an eye’ will
only leave too many blind ones as the society degenerates into
anarchy.
Rather than steps that can only return Nigeria to the dark ages, the
deepening of officials’ tolerance for criticism and sustaining respect
for the rule of law – as already exemplified by President Goodluck
Jonathan – will help Nigeria’s democratic growth and sustenance.
The Defence House where the President-Elect conducts his official
business was built with Nigerian taxpayers’ money and an
administration that preaches CHANGE should also encourage transparency
and tolerance of criticism. Although it could be understandable for
the President-elect to feel aggrieved about particular activities of
the AIT, there can be no justifiable basis for Mr. Buhari to ostracize
the television station the way he summarily did. Even in the United
States and other democracies that we seek to emulate, the critical
press does not get silenced by presidential fiat.
“While the APC appears to be doing well, albeit at grave costs, in
reining-in the mounting excesses of General Buhari (rtd), some have
expressed amazement about how and why a political party should have
cause to perfunctorily reverse a ‘presidential decision’.
More importantly, the question that lingers remains: are we all seeing
signs of coming dire times of wilful expression of autocratic
tendencies in Nigeria?
A very wrong step has been put forward and Nigerians and the
international community had better prepare for a long drawn battle to
preserve the democratic gains of personal freedom and the rule of law
of the Jonathan years. We sincerely hope Nigerians have not
unwittingly shot themselves in the foot.
Indeed, there is cause for deep concern!
–
FOR PDP HOUSE OF REPS CAUCUS:
Hon Mulikat Akande Adeola
Majority Leader, House of Representatives
29th April, 2015
