The Peoples Democratic Party Caucus in the Federal House of Representatives has expressed very deep concerns over President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s ban on African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities at the Defence House in Abuja.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Caucus noted that while it abides by the Peoples Democratic Party’s decision not to insult or denigrate the office of the President the way the All Progressive Congress (APC) did against President Goodluck Jonathan, it is deeply concerned about the anti-mass media disposition that culminated into AIT’s ban, and its far reaching implications for democratic freedom under the coming Buhari Presidency.
“Except for the utterly obnoxious Decree 4 which the military dictatorship under the same General Buhari once foisted on Nigeria, nothing in the laws of the federation and international protocols to which Nigeria has subscribed, prohibits media freedom under any circumstance.
Contending that such ban as announced by the President-Elect’s media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu last weekend negates democratic ideals, including freedom of expression and the holding of divergent opinions, the Caucus noted with chuckles the All Progressives Congress (APC) decision to quickly reverse the controversial decision on Tuesday: “Is this a sign of worse things to come?
The statement signed by Mulikat Akande Adeola, majority leader, House of Representatives said “While we do not hold brief for any media organization, well-meaning people expect that rather than begin on a wrong footing by signaling a keenness to go to war against the mass media, even before being sworn in; the President-elect and the APC should be democratic, tolerant non- impulsive and matured with the option of taking any media organization that has committed any infraction or breach of professional ethics before the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) or the law courts for appropriate sanctions.
“A society in which any individual freely chooses to exercise far-reaching powers beyond the force of a court’s summary trial, or one in which each angry person resorts to ‘an eye for an eye’ will only leave too many blind ones as the society degenerates into anarchy.
“Rather than steps that can only return Nigeria to the dark ages, the deepening of officials’ tolerance for criticism and sustaining respect for the rule of law – as already exemplified by President Goodluck Jonathan – will help Nigeria’s democratic growth and sustenance.
“The Defence House where the President-Elect conducts his official business was built with Nigerian taxpayers’ money and an administration that preaches Change should also encourage transparency and tolerance of criticism. Although it could be understandable for the President-elect to feel aggrieved about particular activities of the AIT, there can be no justifiable basis for Mr. Buhari to ostracize the television station the way he summarily did. Even in the United States and other democracies that we seek to emulate, the critical press does not get silenced by presidential fiat.
“While the APC appears to be doing well, albeit at grave costs, in reining-in the mounting excesses of General Buhari (rtd), some have expressed amazement about how and why a political party should have cause to perfunctorily reverse a ‘presidential decision’.
More importantly, the question that lingers remains: are we all seeing signs of coming dire times of wilful expression of autocratic tendencies in Nigeria?
A very wrong step has been put forward and Nigerians and the international community had better prepare for a long drawn battle to preserve the democratic gains of personal freedom and the rule of law of the Jonathan years. We sincerely hope Nigerians have not unwittingly shot themselves in the foot.
“Indeed, there is cause for deep concern!”the statement said.