Nigeria is a democracy under the rule of law. Therefore, it is unacceptable to the citizens that those entrusted to see to it that the rule of law is upheld, now seek recourse to self-help. Nigeria Governors PressFreedom Press
This is unfortunate for the emerging democracy in Nigeria, the strong tower of the black race. The other day, the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi barred two journalists from the Government House for life and threatened to deal ruthlessly with them if they continued to write reports that create ‘panic’ among the people.
Hence, it has become imperative to revisit the action of Governor Umahi and sensitise him about the role of the Press as enshrined in the Constitution. Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, states that, “the press, radio and television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to…uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”
The media as the sentinel has the duty of watching over the Realm, keeping a sharp eye open over other arms of government as enshrined in the Constitution. When a US-based group, the Committee of Concerned Journalists, surveyed journalists about the character of their profession at the very end of the 20th century, they came to this common understanding that the central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society. This may account for why the fundamentals of journalism as it is practised in democratic settings attempts to base itself on fact, not opinion.
So, it is appalling that political officeholders in the country, especially governors from Southeast and Southsouth who take delight in detaining journalists, are the greatest beneficiaries of the battle for freedom in a democracy won for Nigeria by the press. Meanwhile, other political officeholders including the ones detaining even siblings and spouses of journalists and radio poets in Kwara State, should note that the press is the ethical director, guard and custodian of governance and everything in the society.
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