Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal, Others Condemn Blasts At Newspaper Houses
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led other prominent Nigerians including Senate President, David Mark; Federal House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and others, to condemn Thursday’s bomb blasts at newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna.
“The President, who received the sad news in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire where he is attending an Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the situation in Mali and Guinea-Bissau, described the attack as ‘ignoble, misguided, horrendous and wicked,’” said a statement from Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan’s special adviser on media and publicity.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government to upholding the constitutional right to freedom of expression in general, and of press freedom in particular, pledging that criminal elements bent on instilling fear in the minds of Nigerians and foreigners will not succeed.
“The President urged media practitioners not to be dissuaded from carrying out their fearless campaign for peace, justice and equity as democracy cannot flourish without press freedom,” it noted.
“President Jonathan commiserated with the bereaved families and other innocent victims of the explosions, and also prayed that Almighty God will grant them succour in their moment of grief and the souls of the departed, peaceful repose. The President further assured all Nigerians that his administration remains undeterred in its resolve to ensure the safety of lives and property at all times.”
Similarly, Senate President, David Mark described the blasts as an assault on the freedom of the press, saying he received the news of the tragedies with shock.
He said the doors of the federal government are open for the resolution of grievances, and assured that the present administration will not relent in its efforts to ensure safety of lives and properties of Nigerians. He urged media practitioners across the country to remain undeterred by the blast.
“We are touched by news of the bomb attack on your outfits by faceless individuals,” he said. “It is unjust, savage, dastardly and evil. As a people, we must all join hands to contain these ugly acts in our midst. We must rise to the challenge of these devious attacks. This is basically an assault on the freedom of the press, which every journalist in our nation laboured to achieve.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal equally said he received news of the blast with shock. In a statement issued in Abuja by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the attacks as worrisome and unfortunate.
“As the conscience of the society and its watchdog, any attack on the media signals a dangerous trend whose consequence would be devastating to the polity,” he reasoned, urging “security agencies to ensure that all those responsible for the attacks are brought to book.”
Speaker Tambuwal urged the media outfits affected by the blasts not to waver in their responsibilities of informing the public and holding leaders to account. He also implored journalists to continue to be courageous in their duties, as the House of Representatives in particular, and the National Assembly in general, would continue to partner with other arms of government and security agencies to ensure that all Nigerians are safe from all forms of attacks.
Former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar also expressed condolences to the management and staff of Leaders and Company Limited, publishers of THISDAY newspaper over the bomb explosions, which rocked its Abuja and Kaduna offices. He also expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Sun Newspapers, the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Journalists over the dastardly act.
“The attacks on media houses are a dangerous dimension to the insurgency in the country, and government needs to be more creative in tackling the menace,” he warned. “This is not the best of times for us as nation. These random attacks require that the government should be more creative in solving this security challenge. It is also important that those behind these dastardly attacks show restraints, and explore other peaceful means of expressing their grievances.”
Atiku observed that “a situation whereby newspaper houses become the target of deadly bomb attacks is not healthy for the social conscience of the society. The media confronted military dictatorships and have been in the vanguard of enthroning democracy in Nigeria ....”
Also, national vice chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of Ekiti state, Chief Segun Oni commiserated with Chief Nduka Obaigbena, publishers of Thisday newspaper.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, Oni described the news of the bomb explosion as “shocking and painful,” and prayed that God will console the families of those who lost their lives or were wounded in the incident. He implored the management of Thisday not to be deterred by the incident.
“I can imagine the level of agony this incident has inflicted on your organisation. It is indeed shocking and painful,” he said. “But do not let it deter you from carrying out your social responsibilities of informing, educating and entertaining Nigerians and indeed, the entire world. Rather, it should be seen as a tonic for you to reinvigorate your energy towards better service delivery to your teeming readers. I share in this painful moment, which I am sure must be trying and pray that God, in His infinite mercies will bring succour to the families of those whose lives were lost, heal those that were wounded and also restore whatever that were destroyed by the bomb explosion.”