At the United Nation, my President voted against the United Nation Resolutions to Protect Human Rights and Defenders. Why many may be surprised for the president to have taken such a position. I wasn’t in any way disturbed about that, because I knew such would come.
Currently in the Nigerian senate, a law is about to be passed against the social media and also to make it an offence to publish any petition or complaint against any public officials. Many may also be surprised at this too.
Can this be a good law?
It should be noted that Gen. Buhari will never be comfortable with anything that has to do with freedom, whether freedom of the press, or human rights freedom, Nnamdi Kalu in view.
Under his previous regime in 1983 – 1985, he promulgated Decree No. 4 of 1984 to gap press freedom. It was under this Decree, the Guardian newspaper was financially sanctioned by his government and two of the Guardian staffs (Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson) detained for uncountable months.
What was their offence?
They had reported, prior to Buhari’s emergency as the president in 1983 after the coup that N2.8billion oil money was missing under him as a Minister.
It could also be recalled what was his answer when Dele Giwa of NewsWatch magazine asked him about his views on press freedom.
He said: “Press Freedom? What is that? I will step on it”.
It was Decree No. 4 of 1984 Buhari used to step on the press and public opinion during his previous regime.
Will he be different this time?
A law is about to be passed, and this time, we all will have to leave social media for Buhari.
A General is always a General, don’t expect anything less.
By Ejike ikezuagu
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