By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Federal lawmakers have come up for additional criticism from #FixPolitics, a civil rights campaigner, over their attempt to fashion laws to resurrect Muhammadu Buhari’s Decree 2 and Decree 4 to gag journalists and impose fines on media outlets.
“We take our stand firmly alongside the Nigerian press, particularly the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and other civil society bodies that have equally expressed consternation at this unacceptable development,” #FixPolitics said.
The position came in a statement issued by #FixPolitics Co-Chair (Constitutional, Political and Electoral Reforms), Professor Remi Sonaiya and Executive Director, Anthony Ubani; and sent out by its spokesperson, Ozioma Ubabukoh.
#FixPolitics describes itself as a citizens-led research-based initiative designed as a “Big Push” for structural change of politics and governance in Nigeria and Africa at large.
It expressed support for the media against undemocratic tendencies.
It stressed that the two bills sponsored in the House of Representatives by Olusegun Odebunmi (APC, Oyo State) are “outright authoritarian and constitute a blatant attempt to stifle free speech and the voice of Nigerian citizens,” as they seek to hand over control of the press to the Ministry of Information.
“This move must be properly understood in the context of a government, which is increasingly intolerant of criticism and divergent opinions and which continues to fail in its primary responsibility of providing security and basic services to the Nigerian populace,” the statement added.
#FixPolitics said developments in Nigeria have raised concerns globally about the deteriorating state of press freedom in the country.
“These include the harassment and arrest of journalists, the ban of Twitter, the closure of media houses and imposition of fines due to spurious allegations.
“The bills being proposed are intended to impose very strict conditions on journalists and media houses seeking to cover government proceedings.
“For example, journalists’ access to the National Assembly will be restricted, while media houses will have to prove that they have a daily hard copy circulation of 40,000 copies or substantial online presence, with at least 5,000 daily views.
“There are several other restrictions proposed in the bills, with the intention of disqualifying journalists from gaining access to government news and reporting such to Nigerians.”
#FixPolitics expressed shock at the “draconian bills” lauded the outrage expressed by the press as portrayed on the front pages of several independent newspapers across the country on July 12.
“It is hoped that other media outlets and organisations, both traditional and internet-based, will join this important movement and resist the gagging of the Nigerian press by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government and an apparent rubber-stamp National Assembly.
“We call on Nigerians everywhere to raise their voices to utterly condemn the further slide of Nigeria into lawlessness, which is the inevitable endpoint of the current strong-arm tactics being deployed by the present administration.
“Nigeria is already being described as a failed (or failing) state; this move by the National Assembly might well be the final push needed to tip the nation over the precipice.”
#FixPolitics vowed to stand with all Nigerians of goodwill and friends of the country to resist the move.
“A free press is the bastion of democracy everywhere. It is clear that the current leadership of the country does not countenance the democratic principles which Nigerians aspire towards, neither does it recognise the ‘Office of the Citizen’ as the highest office in the land – with the responsibility to hold accountable every individual who wields power and authority on its behalf.
“This is a duty that we in #FixPolitics do not hold lightly. We will defend the Freedom of the Press and the Office of the Nigerian Citizen.”
