Darkness beclouds presidency as Buhari urges ‘responsible freedom’ on World Press Freedom Day

The Nigerian presidency may have been beclouded by darkness such that the president prescribes a certain type of freedom, perhaps, he prefers to the government under President Muhammadu Buhari. Apparently, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement on Monday, indicated that on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, observed globally every May 3, President Muhammadu Buhari recommits to freedom of the press, and urges media professionals to wield freedom responsibly, and without licentiousness. The president chose to cherish a brand of freedom (which may not speak the truth to power) rather than adopting the universal concept of power which may not have restraints.

It was noted that while celebrating the landmark day with the media, the President noted that freedom of the press is an irreducible minimum in a democracy that would flourish, adding that freedom must, however, be used responsibly.

According to President Buhari, “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly, in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.

“The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation, and further inflame passions and emotions, should be avoided. The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”

The President differentiated licentious freedom from responsible freedom, saying that it is different from freedom with responsibility. Buhari, then, charged the Nigerian media to embrace the latter, rather than the former.

On the part of government, President Buhari pledged greater cooperation with the media to discharge its duties, in line with the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘Information as a Public Good.’

He charged those who manage information for government to do everything in public interest, while also encouraging the media to use the Freedom of Information Act available to make its jobs easier.

The President submitted that it is very vital to have access to reliable information in an era of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, all to cause discord in society.