TMG Condemns Attacks On Independent Media
In what is apparently a throwback to those dark days of iron fisted dictatorship by the military, a time when civic freedoms were willfully upended, the TMG notes with a deep sense of concern the recent onslaught by the Military and other state agents on the Independent Media in Nigeria.
The TMG has observed that in the last one week media practitioners, including newspaper journalists, a broadcaster and even newspaper vendors have come under unwarranted searches and arrests, while stacks of newspapers running into millions of Naira have been illegally seized from them by soldiers. In Abuja for instance, the Area 1, newspaper distribution depot has been severally besieged by soldiers who have harassed vendors and seized their property.
There have also been reports of seizures of newspapers in Abuja, Lokoja, Ibadan and in the Northern parts of the country, with soldiers ransacking vans conveying these vital sources of information. Cases of vendors being molested and their newspapers being forcefully taken away have become too rife for comfort.
The TMG is not persuaded by the unconvincing explanations by government and defense spokes persons as to the motive behind these disruptive searches and seizures. If security was the main reason for these actions by the military, the TMG wonders why seizures of newspapers have gone ahead, even when nothing incriminating has been in the distribution vans conveying these materials to various parts of the country.
A government willing to acts within the limits of decorum and the rule of law would have found channels to communicate with the media houses to officially inform them of government's impending actions, so as to enable them devise alternative means to carry on their businesses.
We therefore strongly condemn the resurgence of these uncivilized assaults on the media. Constitutionally, the place of the media as the fourth estate of the realm is guaranteed, and without a vibrant independent media, both the government and the governed would be left in the dark with regards to significant events in society.
As we condemn these infringements on the rights of the independent media to discharge its constitutionally guaranteed functions, we note that the high handedness demonstrated by the government and its agents, is capable of further making mockery of Nigeria's already tattered democratic credentials.
The TMG therefore calls on the Federal Government to immediately tender an unreserved apology for disrupting the businesses of responsible corporate citizens. Soldiers who were ordered to mount the offensive against the media must also be compelled to return all seized properties, while adequate compensation must be given to affected media organizations. The TMG wishes to advise those who wield state power to exercise it with utmost decorum.
In the same vein, we take exception to the punitive action taken against a Splash FM, Ibadan broadcaster, Edmund Obilo for airing an interview exposing corruption in the government of Oyo State. Obilo had interviewed a member of the House of Representatives, Kamil Akinlabi who alleged in the broadcast that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had been sharing states monies with some traditional rulers in Oyo State under the guise of contracts.
The TMG expects that all actors in a democratic setting, such as Nigeria professes to adhere to the rule of law in resolving these kinds of allegations. But without fair hearing, the governor summarily dismissed the broadcaster, an action which TMG considers as an abuse of power and due process. We therefore call, and enjoin on all well meaning Nigerians to similarly pressure the governor to immediately reverse this act of impunity.
Long Live Nigeria!
Signed
Comrade Zik Ibrahim
Chairman,
Chief Eddy Ezurike
Publicity Secretary