Invasion Of Premium Times: Call MilitaryTo Order, Nigerians Tells Buhari
Omooba Risawe
Media practitioners and public analysists have called on President Muhammed Buhari to cautioned the military over the invasion of Premium Times,and arrest of publisher and a reporter by security operatives.
The call was made on Friday on a live radio programme,\’gentlemen of the press\’ of Sweet F.M based in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital. The security operatives on Thursday stormed headquarters of the newspaper paper in Abuja and whisked away it\’s publisher and a reporter
A participant, Eddy Aina in his submission said the action of the military hiding under security operatives was uncalled for,and should realised that the era of Decree 4 is gone.
Aina a former Director at National Broadcasting Commission,NBC, stated further that,the allegation by the military leader,Buratai was a civil offence, and should have go to court rather than taking laws into their hand.
He said, the military cannot silence the media for playing it\’s constitutional roles,in informing and educating the populace, and therefore called on the presidency to wade into the matter.
Similarly, Dimeji Awoyemi,a participant of the programme condemned the arrest, pointing out that, the action cannot deter journalists from functioning effectively,rather it will motivate to dig and unearth more rots in the society.
Awoyemi, a former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Ogun State Council posited that,the action of military invading Premium Times and arrest of staff, would further encourage other media to be more proactive in embarking on investigative journalism.
He declared that,the action taken by military against Premium Times would not do the government any good,hence the need to retrace their step in the interest of the country.
In the same vein, cross section of callers on the radio programme, said the military action was notorious,which should be condemned.
They posited that, the action was a step to introduce Decree 4, which is no more fashionable, and should be discourage in all ramifications
