Daily Trust: Atiku decries attack on press freedom

THE Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed alarm at the military invasion of the offices of Media Trust Limited, Publishers of Daily Trust newspapers.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, the former Vice President said he was outraged by the arrest of their regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab.

The statement added: “We totally condemn these actions and call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call his forces to order and end their attack on the media and the freedom of the press.

“This is a travesty, the likes of which we have not seen since the heinous days of military rule. Atiku Abubakar and other pro-democrats did not risk their lives fighting for democracy for this to happen.

“This is unacceptable. The media is not only a partner in progress to the government, but they are also a quasi-arm of the government, as Edmund Burke propounded, the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

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“The particular use of heavily armed soldiers also shows the abuse of scarce resources which has exacerbated the insecurity currently plaguing Nigeria.

“Our soldiers should not be used to target law-abiding citizens. A dutiful and prudent commander-in-chief should rather deploy them to either the Northeast or the Zamfara-Katsina axis, especially after the Governors of both states held New Year’s Day conferences bemoaning the breakdown of law and order in their respective states.”

The opposition presidential flag bearer urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his powers as Commander-in-Chief to protect the people, rather than to oppress Nigerians. If the government has issues with Media Trust Limited, it should press charges against them at a court of competent jurisdiction or the Nigeria Press Council, the statutory body that governs ethical standards in the Nigerian press.

“Nigeria had a free press before this administration and we assure the President and all Nigerians that a free press will outlast this government,” the statement said.

Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has expressed their displeasure on the recent invasion of Daily Trust newspaper Abuja and Maiduguri offices and the arrest of some of their journalists by military operatives.

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its national spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, bemoaned the action of the military, noting that the press derives its powers to function from the constitution.

The statement noted that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) had assured that they want a free and fair election in February “but their actions are totally different from what they say.”

The CUPP added: “How can you say that you hope for credible polls in 2019 when the media which is an integral part of ensuring credibility are being oppressed?”