Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects the moves by the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government
to further gag the media, subjugate Nigerians and curtail their
constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.
The party says the decision by President Buhari to impose stringent
regulations on online media and broadcast organisations as recently
announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, is completely obnoxious, anti-democratic and a direct
violation of statutory rules governing media practice and freedom of
expression in Nigeria.
The PDP also rejects the Presidential declaration of political comments
as “Class A” offence, insisting that such is designed to undermine the
nation’s constitutional democracy, exterminate the rights of citizens to
dissenting public opinion, emasculate the opposition and foist a
dictatorship and one party system on our nation.
Our party alerts that such moves amount to an attempt to amend our
constitution to take away the rights of citizens and undermine our
democratic institutions; a development that has the capacity to
destabilize our dear nation.
The PDP invites Nigerians to note that this dictatorial pathways which
the Buhari Presidency seeks to impose, if allowed, will herald the
gradual emasculation of freedom of expression, repression of free press,
infringements on the rights of citizens and foisting of siege mentality
on the people.
Nigerians are already apprehensive that the directive is geared towards
clearing the ground for the introduction of certain harsh policies in
our country.
The party insists that our constitution has made enough provisions to
guide media practice as well as the exercise of freedom of expression,
adding that the foisting of unconstitutional and suppressive regulations
is not acceptable under any guise.
The PDP therefore calls on the members of the National Assembly, as the
representatives of the people, to reject this Presidential directive in
the interest of our nation.
It also cautions President Muhammadu Buhari and his advisers not to
derail the nation with such undemocratic policies.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
