Lawyers in the Media condemn government over siege on press

Chairman of the Lawyers in the Media Forum (LIM), Mr. Charles Odenigbo at the weekend in Abuja condemned the federal government over what he described as obnoxious actions against the press.

Military agents of the government have oppressed, harassed, impounded, detained restrained the distribution vehicles of some media houses in the country for the past two weeks.

Condeming government action at the weekend, Odenigbo said: “Nigeria is gradually slipping back into what we saw during the military era; it is  very obvious that the government of the day is not very clear about the rules of democracy.

He said: “Section 13 of the 1999 constitution as amended clearly states the fundamental obligations of the government includes  to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of the  constitution especially the provisions  of chapter two which deals with the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State policy.

“Nigeria practices government based on the principles of democracy and social justice. Now there are certain clear objectives or State policies that we are expected to adhere to in terms of political objectives, environmental objectives, foreign policy and much more. Section 15 (5) states that “the state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” One wonders where the government derived the power to clamp down media houses.

“Section 22 of the constitution also imposes a heavy obligation on the mass media. That Section states that the press, which includes newspapers, magazines, radio, televisions and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in chapter two of the constitution and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.

Odenigbo stated: “when military officers begin to impound circulation vans of newspaper houses to prevent the circulation of newspapers, it becomes worrisome and total abuse of the rule of law. This is obnoxious, it is unwarranted and a gross violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens whether individuals or corporate citizens to pursue their legitimate businesses. If the military feel aggrieved in any way, all that is expected of them is to reply or go to court. This affront amounts to testing the waters for other heinous probable steps in concert.

“This is a clear indication that the government and their military cohorts do not have tolerance for democratic ideals and norms. A government that does not tolerate free press is not a democratic government at all; it has put on the apparel of dictatorship.

Odenigbo said: “ I am really disappointed that the Special Assistant to the President on Communication and  Public  affairs,  Dr. Doyin Okukpe could justify the action of the military on the flimsy excuse that they were searching for sensitive security documents; I am surprised that he has reduced politics to that level; there is nothing that the military is looking for. The President of Nigeria is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and he takes responsibility for whatever happens in the country. They cannot cook up excuses to cover up  for their errors.

“ The first thing that the Federal government should do is to tender unreserved apology  to  Nigerians and to the whole mass media in Nigeria and to the international community for failing to adhere to the basic tenets and principles of democracy as enshrined in the constitution which ushered in this government. We are not under a military dictatorship where they suspend some sections of the constitution at their own whims and caprices; we are now under real democracy and the 1999 constitution as amended  is what drives every action of government in this country. Nobody is above the constitution, nobody is above the law, because the  basic tenets of democracy is equality before the law and social justice; this must be in operation for the people to be able to express themselves as spelt out  under  Section 39 of  the constitution. 

“This is the law, and it is not negotiable; it is the inalienable right of every citizen of this country to express and share their opinions. This can only be achieved through speaking to the media and the media transmitting it. It does not matter what or how you think,   what matters is that there is a medium through which you want to express yourself and this is the beauty of   the freedom of the press. I think that if the military is not checked at this point, Nigeria could be slipping back into the era of anarchy and we must resist it vehemently and protect this democracy with every drop of our blood”. Odenigbo concluded.