Press statement from the PDP on AIT ban, which the APC has
since lifted..
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
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