Yemisi Izuora
BudgIT, EIE, CODE and other CSOs have thrown their support behind the call for the release of Samuel Ogundipe, a renowned Premium Times NIgeria Journalist who was arrested by the Nigerian Police following his publication of a story. His detention is unlawful and screams oppression.
As a group that prides itself on a deep understanding and push for democracy, we state that his arrest rubs off as a slap to our democracy and shunts the freedom of the media in nation building. The media plays a key role in building a free and fair society and thus serve as the voice of the people in modern day.
“We are conflicted by the idea that the Police, designed to protect and abide by the law, intimidates the media at will over publications of stories that do not sit well with it. To re emphasise again that the media is the fourth estate of the realm and the existence of a unrestrained and independent press in any nation, and this is crucial to the democratization process. Through its freedom of expression and the independence of journalists, nation building is possible from the media’s objective questioning and conscious engagement with the public. Developed nations have identified free press as a valuable ingredient for democracy, human development and good governance. The archaic practice to subdue and intimidate the press furthers spreads the decay within our democracy and in such should be stopped”, they said in a statement.
On Human Rights, Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”, Furthermore on the disclosure of sources to the law enforcement, the Code of Ethics published contained in the Nigerian Press Council Act No. 85 (1992), as amended in Act No. 60 (1999), Section 4 (i) & (ii) seek to ensure maintenance of high professional standard amongst journalists in maintaining confidentiality of sources for protection. The request by the Nigeria Police Forces contravenes that which holds together the fabric of professionalism in the media sector. It is therefore undemocratic and inhumane that Samuel Ogundipe has been treated like a criminal in the line of duty.
‘Our organisation will like to remind the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement authorities that the Freedom of Information Act 2011 provides freedom to citizens, including journalists, in obtaining public information and use. BudgIT, EIE, CODE and other CSOs affirms that the beauty of democracy is the freedom that it provides citizens, civil society groups & the media in the pursuit of accountability & truth. In ensuring that the civic space remains unfettered and uneroded, media independence starting from the release of Samuel Ogundipe and avoidance of future occurrence must be held to the highest regards – for the sake of our democracy that is yet to fully grow in favour of development”.
The fundamental requirement of good governance is transparency, and the least form of transparency is the availability of public information. This is what the media owes the public and thus required to exercise rights in the fulfilment of this obligation. The protection of our civic space comes at full vigilance and giving support to causes that strive to kick against interference. We call on all civil society groups, media groups, international bodies and citizens to reject this brutal use of the police in violating human rights as this is detrimental to free speech and governance as a whole.