Some journalists have questioned the extent of press freedom in Nigeria, noting that the practice of journalism in our country has become replete with cases of abduction, illegal arrest, maltreatment, detention, and even death.Olatunji argued that no Nigerian should be unjustly denied his freedom and fundamental rights, particularly under the current political dispensation in the country.
He therefore appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take another look into the cases of all those Nigerians unjustly incarcerated and order their immediate release.
Olatunji said: “The near total absence of press freedom in Nigeria is a sad commentary on the country over two decades of democracy.
“In Nigeria, freedom of the press is a mirage, and it will remain so, so long as the military and other security agencies, aided and encouraged by their new civilian lords, continue to exhibit this warped belief that they’re superior to the rest of the citizens in the country because of their uniforms and guns, which in the first place are bought with the taxpayers’ money.
“The practice of journalism in our country has become replete with cases of abduction, illegal arrest, detention, and even death, as well as the maltreatment and crass violations of the fundamental rights of journalists and other citizens who cry out against corrupt practices, illegalities, and other heinous crimes being committed by the privileged few and those in the corridors of power, even under our over two decades old democracy.
“There are still many innocent Nigerians who are currently languishing in jail for no just cause. There are many Mubarak Balas pining away behind bars in prisons across the country. They have even been forgotten. This shouldn’t be so.
“Nigeria is under civil rule, and no one should be unjustly denied his freedom and fundamental human rights. I think it’s high time the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu looked into all these cases of unjust incarceration of innocent citizens with a view to setting them free.”
Another journalist, Honourable Wale Adedayo, held that press freedom should not be for the benefit of media practitioners alone but for all citizens under democracy.
Adedayo further argued that citizens must be adequately equipped with information to effectively hold those they have elected into political and public offices accountable.
Adedayo said, “Press freedom is not for the benefit of media practitioners alone. An informed citizenry, who’ll thus make informed choices, is an essential ingredient in any genuine democracy. But for citizens to make informed choices, they must have access to information. Without access to information, there is no democracy. So, press freedom is essential for everyone in a democracy.
“Citizens must be able to question and see, firsthand, what those they elected or appointed to serve them are doing right or wrong. It is this monitoring process that is encompassed in the process of accessing and releasing information. It shows that the elected and appointed officials of government are doing what they were put in office to do. Any secrecy about such things is not allowed.”
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