Leadership (Abuja)
18 November 2008
The Action Congress (AC) has condemned the continued harassment of the publisher and some editorial staff of the
LEADERSHIP newspapers by security agencies, saying it fits into the evolving pattern of a serial intimidation of the media in the country under the administration of President Umaru Yar'Adua.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai aMohammed, the party expressed disappointment that the administration was using the story on the President's health, published by
LEADERSHIP, as a smokescreen to intimidate the media.
It said while President Yar'Adua took the right step in asking his lawyers to sue the newspaper for allegedly publishing a false report on his health, it was wrong to continue to harass the paper afterwards.
"What is the point in going to court to seek redress if you would try to get the redress yourself through undue process? Yes, that is what the current style of using the police and the State Security Service to harass the paper amounts to, and it must stop!" AC said
The party said while it frowns at the publication of unconfirmed reports by the media on any issue at all, including the health of the President, that must not be used as a reason to stifle the press. After all, the presidency promptly refuted the report and even went a step further by threatening to sue the paper.
"We recall our statement when Channel TV was arbitrarily and illegally shut down, that the station should challenge the closure in court. If that had been done, perhaps the outcome would have given the government a second thought about arbitrary closure of media houses and harassment of journalists.
"Worse still, the
LEADERSHIP management's rush to apologise over the story further worsened matters. Now, the apology is being leveraged by the administration to harass the paper, while nothing has been heard about the threatened suit," AC said.
The party reminded President Yar'Adua that speculations on his health will not go away, until the President himself comes clean over the issue.
"All through history, there have been Presidents who managed to rule their nations well even with one form of infirmity or another. The difference in this case is that such infirmities are not hidden from the public. The moment that is done, rumours will thrive. That is what is happening in the case of President Yar'Adua.
"Again we say: Mr. President, level up with Nigerians on your health status, and the speculations will disappear. Continue to harass the media over the issue, and the rumour mill will grind on," AC said.
Hon Labaran Danbatta, deputy chairman House committee on media and public affairs in reaction to the harassment of
LEADERSHIP editors advised the security agencies to abide by the rule of law, which is the cardinal principle of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration.
He said since the President had announced his intention to pursue the matter in a court of law, there was absolutely no need to continue chasing the newspapers editors.
"The situation is that we should abide by the rule of law at all times and I will advise the security agencies to allow the rule of law to take its course.
"Although, no one is in support of any media organization writing falsehood, but in this case, I think
LEADERSHIP has apologized so if Mr. President is still going to court as we his special adviser on communication said, let him file a suit and allow the judiciary to do its bit. Let the security operatives exercise restraint and allow rule of law and due process to prevail.
Meanwhile, constitutional lawyers in the country have risen to the occasion by condemning the actions of the two law enforcement agencies on
LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group Limited, saying it is barbaric, dictatorial and unhealthy for democracy.
Constitutional lawyer and human rights activists, Chief Mike Ozekhome, said for the SSS to be harrassing newspaper houses to this extent is a way of wielding Nigerians "back to the long old days of military dictatorship and jackbootism which is antithetical to democracy".
Speaking exclusively to
LEADERSHIP yesterday, Ozekhome said "I don't believe this is healthy for our democracy. In America, all presidential candidates like Obama and McCain are subjected to public scrutiny and their medical record are made public document for all to see.
"This is why one magazine has said Obama is not only the fittest president of America but also one of the world's 25 fittest men. The president is a product of the Nigeria citizenry. His health is matter of public concern and journalists are empowered under section 42 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution to pry into the health of Mr. President".
Ozekhome further said "where adequate information is not properly given, the rumour mill will be adopted. Look at the way his aid handled his health issue when he travelled to Saudi Arabia.
The president in his quest for the rule of law is in a position where he is to show this himself. There are laws of libel, sedition and other charges for him to harp on and go to court. The president should drop this matter immediately and face issues of budget, bad roads and putting of food on the mouths of Nigerians".
Another legal luminary in the country, Mr. Bamidele Aturum said what the SSS and the police are doing is not ina accordance with democracy.
He said "It shows that this government does not have respect for dissenting opinion if a media man commits a blunder, you take him to court let the court decide and not to cease his computer and subject him to all sort of harrassment. I think that is barbaric. I condemn it in all its entirety".
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