By Chimezie Godfrey
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for the immediate release of the arrested staff of Daily Trust Newspapers. They group also asked for adequate oversight activities by relevant legislative Committees in the National Assembly on the conduct of military agents across the country.
The Executive Director (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, in a press statement issued on Monday condemned in totality the methods deployed by Nigerian Army in its response to its allegation of professional misdeeds related to some publications by Daily Trust Newspapers.
He said that the unnecessary show of excessive force and arbitrary arrests of staff of the media outfit, as well as the invasion of Daily Trust Offices in Abuja and Maiduguri, amounts to intimidation and threat to freedom of press and undermines the rule of law.
“We wish to state that a free and proactive press is indispensable in a true democratic society and remains a veritable platform for informing and educating citizens to effectively engage issues of governance, while also holding government accountable.
“This is possible only by public presentation of facts, and articulation or publication of findings without fear or favour.
“CISLAC is surprised that after about two decades of Nigeria’s return to democratic system, enabling instrument of democracy like freedom of press remains a difficult thing to achieve, despite the provision of Section 39(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, he said.”
Rafsanjani noted that Section 39(2) grants every person the right to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions subject to laws enacted by the National Assembly.
He also said that CISLAC was seriously disturbed by the persistent and unchecked violation of the rule of law in recent times by security agencies including unjustifiable threats against vital institutions of democracy and human rights in the country.
“We are concerned by the existing high-handed response deployed by security agencies to civil issues and their level of misconducts, creating public doubt about their readiness and credibility to sincerely conduct themselves appropriately in the 2019 general elections without fear or favour.
“The Armed Forces have been mandated to defend the territorial integrity of the country and constantly engaging in aggressive and intimidating civil policing is way out of its constitutional authority.
“While we believe that journalists and the media should be responsible within the rule of law and avoid acts that could undermine the peace and security of the nation, we insist that the military cannot resort to self-help and excessive show of force to intimidate civilians whenever it feels aggrieved.
“The laws of our land have made adequate provisions for how such should be addressed and the military should not act outside of these laws, he said.”
The Executive Director reiterated the fact that the security agencies must desist from taking laws into its hands as there are proper channels to be followed whenever it feels that it has issues with organizations or persons, and that resorting to the use of force and intimidation to harass, not only the supposed ‘enemy,’ but for all living around their area of siege, must to be discontinued.
He expressed concern about the recent increased violence and insecurity the country, and the growing desperation among political parties clamoring for power in 2019 with resultant tension and uncertainty in political atmosphere.
“CISLAC, therefore, demands the immediate release of the undemocratically arrested personnel of Daily Trust Newspapers, while calling for adequate oversight activities by relevant legislative Committees in the National Assembly on the conduct of military agents across the country.
“CISLAC calls on all political parties to strictly adhere to the rule of law and respect for press freedom and human rights in their political dealings as the nation trends towards the 2019 general elections.
“CISLAC further encourages the media and general public to continue to uphold democratic core values without fear or favour, he concluded.”
