2023 Election: Press Freedom, Curtailing The Power Of Journalism -By Biliaminu Manne

The curtailment of press freedom is no longer a news, the issue of press freedom is not a novel thing nor is it the most amazing attended to with great care, but the most violated right by government, public officials, corporations and the likes of others. Limitations and restrictions are being put in place to suppress the power of the press.

The world is on the verge of the theory of “survival of the fittest”, where the stronger ones survive and the weak ones drop to the ground, where the public officials siphoned public money meant for their development while the masses live in abject poverty.

Our leaders have tamed the press freedom and the power of journalists, and confronted them with the threat of being put behind bars; the freedom of information Act is yet to be domesticated in some states thereby making them unaccountable to the press.

Recall that on 25th February 2023, Opinionnigeria.com has published an article about the roles of Youths and Journalists in ensuring smooth electioneering conduct, and also the general election of Nigeria was held.

The publish article of Opinion Nigeria expressed about the duties of journalists to ensure free and fair election processes in various polling units by observing, reporting and taking pictures of the election proceedings.

Part of the article reads: “Journalists have critical roles to play in monitoring election activities to ensure smooth electioneering processes by reporting the factual data to enhance transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections. It is news of the people, by the people and for the people in a democratic society.”

“Journalists provide on the spot information on polling units during the election by sincerely monitoring election proceedings on observation and surveillance of the environment to ensure transparency and free and fair proceedings. These can be done by taking pictures, photos and other activities on election ground.”

However, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has published a report on Monday, 27th February 2023, that at least 14 journalists and media workers were detained while being covering the Nigeria Presidential Election.

“Abuja, February 27, 2023 – At least 14 journalists and media workers were detained, harassed, or attacked while covering Nigeria’s presidential and federal elections, including private news website WikkiTimes owner Haruna Mohammed Salisu, who remains in police custody without charge, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday,” it read.

Notwithstanding, last year 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alsi published in their report on Wednesday 14th December 2022, that 363 pressmen were deprived of their press freedom for practising their profession as of this year. Journalists are being prone to a series of attacks and intimidation from public officials thereby disrupting their lawful work.

Part of the report reads: “It’s been another record-breaking year for the number of journalists jailed for practising their profession. The Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual prison census has found that 363 reporters were deprived of their freedom as of December 1, 2022 – a new global high that overtakes last year’s record by 20% and marks another grim milestone in a deteriorating media landscape.

“Imprisoning journalists is just one measure of how authoritarian leaders try to strangle press freedom. Around the world, governments are also honing tactics like “fake news” laws, using criminal defamation and vaguely worded legislation to criminalize journalism, ignoring the rule of law and abusing the judicial system, and exploiting technology to spy on reporters and their families.”

This evidenced the derogation of press freedom and humiliation suffered by the gentlemen of the press across the world while discharging their duties.

Conclusively, If the rights of Journalists or the press freedom is going to be derogated by arresting them upon discharging their responsibilities, how will a nation survive without being oppressed by a tyrant ruler?
Who will be the eyes and ears of the masses?

The government should give room to the Journalists to discharge their responsibilities transparently and also the leaders should shun the curtailment of press freedom across the world for the free and fair dissemination of information in every Nation.