Former Nigerian Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is worried that Nigeria is on the verge of a return to the dark days of military dictatorship when the press was frequently harassed and muzzled.
Former Nigerian Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is worried that Nigeria is on the verge of a return to the dark days of military dictatorship when the press was frequently harassed and muzzled.
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Reacting to reports of the confiscation of thousands of copies of some newspapers by the military, Atiku warned that the freedom of the press is a non-negotiable component of democracy.
“By attacking the press and arresting journalists, aren't we slowly edging back to the dark days of military dictatorship”? Atiku asked on social networking site, Twitter.
“The war on terror needs citizens' and press' cooperation, which is being made difficult by the harassment of the press”.
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Despite seizing several thousand copies of some national dailies on Friday, and continuing with the raid on Saturday, the Nigerian Army insists that the confiscation were “a routine security action” rather than an attack on the concerned newspapers.
“The Defense Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organisations or their personnel, as is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press”, Director of Defense Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade said.
"The military appreciates and indeed respects the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and the overall advancement of our country’s democratic credentials. As such, the military will not deliberately and without cause, infringe on the freedom of the press.
He assured “the general public and the affected media organisations in particular” that the exercise was a “routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive”.
The clampdown on newspapers has been roundly condemned by the public, with the Nigeria Guild of Editors describing the military’s explanation as “totally unacceptable”.
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