The Nigerian Presidency has
strongly condemned what it calls an upsurge in the promotion of hate speech by
the media especially as it relates to the farmers/herders crisis in Benue
state.
The condemnation was made Friday
by the spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, while briefing
State House correspondents.
Mr. Shehu said the “growing lack
of respect for journalism ethics and press laws in the Nigerian media,
especially regarding the clashes in Benue State is very unfortunate”.
He said the frequent expressions
of hate speech published by newspapers, in news stories and especially in
columns have become a source of concern to all Nigerians.
“We want to state emphatically
that a segment of the Nigerian media is sinking deeper and deeper into the mesh
of hate speech in spite of repeated appeals by recognised and reputable media
bodies, the Government and concerned Nigerians,” he said.
“Unfortunately, self-regulation
which is the norm in civilised societies has taken flight from many of our
newsrooms.
“For instance, a recent column
published in a national newspaper (The Sun newspaper), said ‘‘President
Muhammadu Buhari was the first to endorse the Benue massacre’’ on New Year Day.
The same columnist described the Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali
as ‘‘a dyed-in-the-wool Fulani irredentist who places trade over and above
human life’’.
“The diatribe went further to
invite citizens of the country to arm themselves and fight each other. In
addition, one of the newspaper’s Saturday headlines proclaimed: ‘Expect More
Blood in Benue…’,” he said.
The presidential spokesperson
also said apart from the basic tone of respect expected from an individual who
is “supposedly intelligent and educated enough” to know better since they have
been granted space to write in a national newspaper, there is the risk of
inciting the public to actions that will have gory consequences for the entire
nation for generations to come.”
He also reminded those “beating
the gongs of war and fanning the embers of discord” to remember what prevailed
in Rwanda before the genocide of the early 90s, during which hundreds of
thousands of lives were lost as a result of consistent hate speech spewing from
that country’s media.
“We must learn to express our
grievances and criticisms without resorting to gutter language or to name
calling, and the press has a responsibility to maintain that even if it means
calling their columnists to order,” he said.
He also said Mr. Buhari, by the
Constitution, has the primary duty of protecting life and property of all
Nigerians, adding “and that is what he has been doing in Benue and across the
country.”
“Calling him a murderer is not
only grossly disrespectful but unfair, especially when the President has
written a letter to the Senate detailing his efforts to quell the crisis in
Benue State, including dispatching the Minister of Interior and the Deputy
Inspector General of Police in charge of operations for an on the spot
assessment of the situation in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident; and
receiving a direct briefing from the IG the following day”.
Mr. Shehu appealed to the media
to show more decorum and professionalism in the reportage of security and humanitarian
situation in the country.
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Media stations and an online media has became partisan in reporting what's happening in Nigeria, but GOD will judge them
ReplyDeleteShut up...What a man sows, he reaps. That is the law of Karma. Buhari came to power by hate speech and he will leave by hate speech. He taught the media this antics and so, should not complain.
DeleteGbam
DeleteExactly
DeleteIf that is the case, lets continue this way but I pity Benue state for allowing their state to be the battle ground for anti-Buhari campaign. Media campaign cannot wake up a dead person.
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