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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unacceptable the Monday’s directive by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to bar a television house, the AIT, from covering his activities, saying the suppression of the media under any guise portends danger for the nation’s democracy.
PDP National Publicity
Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Tuesday said that after carefully studying
the defence posited by General Buhari’s campaign spokesperson as well as the
smokescreen statement by the APC to cover and mitigate his anti-media posture, the
PDP and indeed all lovers of democracy are persuaded that the action was not
only unjustifiable, but also unconstitutional and completely against the spirit
of liberty and the rule of law in a democracy.
He said “the PDP as a party
that have nurtured the nation’s democracy in the past 16 years cannot afford to
fold its hands and watch the constitutional rights, media freedom and personal
liberty of Nigerians, the basic tenets of democracy being demolished.
“We ask, is this a
beginning of the feared erosion of the freedom and personal liberty the media
and Nigerian citizens have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP
led-administration? Has our dear nation finally fallen into the clutches of totalitarianism
and impunity where government actions will based on egocentric decisions and
impulses of individuals rather than the rule of law?
“While we assure the
President-elect of our resolve to run a mature and responsible opposition based
on issues, we are disturbed by this emerging development and reassure the Nigerian
people that we will continue to stand with them on issues of democracy and
freedom at all times.
“Perhaps, we need to
remind General Buhari that part of the challenge of his new position, even as
President-elect is that he has lost his private life which is now subject to
public scrutiny and media interrogation, as required of the custodian of the
mandate of the Nigerian people.
“The PDP is not oblivious
of the background of the President-elect especially as it relates to the
freedom of the media, but we had thought that having declared to be a converted
democrat, he would make himself amenable to the basic principles of democracy
by following the due process of the law on any circumstance.
“General Buhari may also wish
to be reminded that the Nigerian constitution upon which provisions he emerged
President-elect, also gave the media powers to cover activities of public office
holders while at the same time providing legal avenues for redress in the event
of any violation. If the right of the President-elect was in anyway violated by
the AIT or any media house for that matter, he is expected to act within the
law and seek redress in the courts otherwise one would have no option than to
conclude that he is out for personal vendetta.
“The APC and the
President-elect may have one or two lessons to pick from President Goodluck
Jonathan, who though the most maligned and abused President in the history of
our nation, even by the APC, allowed his actions to be sufficiently guided by
humility, tolerance and the rule of law”, the PDP said.
The party called on
Nigerians not to despair but remain steadfast and unite in resisting any
anti-democratic tendencies intended to instill fear in them and set the stage
for a dictatorial order and the erosion of their personal freedom and liberty
as citizens, which they have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP.
Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
