Posted by The National Association of Seadogs, Atlantic Shores Deck (Eket chapter), Akwa Ibom State has urged the incoming government of the State to provide an enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to practice without any form of fear, intimidation or molestation.
The association made the call in a statement signed by its captain, Utibe Ikot and made available to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday in commemoration of the 2023 world press freedom day with the theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights.”
The statement also harped on the need for the public to be conscious of the imperatives of protecting the rights of journalists and ensuring that they can operate without fear of censorship while holding the government continually accountable.
Ikot, however, regretted that press freedom, even though enshrined in the constitution, seemed elusive, as it has been hindered by several factors ranging from obnoxious legislation such as the Cybercrime Act, secrecy and so on.
The statement in parts, “We are reminding the incoming administration in Akwa Ibom State Government of the need to respect their commitment and uphold their obligation to press freedom; and also provide an enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to practise their chosen profession without fear of intimidation, threats, blackmail, imprisonment.
“However, press freedom, even though enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seems continually elusive, as it has been hindered by several factors ranging from obnoxious legislation such as the Cybercrime Act, secrecy, legal pressure, monetary inducement by politicians and other interested parties, fake news from unscrupulous partisan media, intimidation and blackmail by state and non-state actors, direct censorship by the National Broadcasting Commission and other regulatory bodies, violence, incarceration, among others.
“The Nigerian media importantly lacks statutory institutional back-up to support media practitioners and journalists in the dispensation of their duties as the ‘4th Estate of the Realm’, and grant them access to information, and insulate them from threats of intimidation.
“We, therefore salute the doggedness and resilience of all conscientious journalists and media practitioners; and pay a glowing tribute to those journalists who have sacrificed their comfort, safety, and even lives in the exercise of their profession, urging them to continue to do their utmost as the custodians of free speech, which is the foundation of all other human rights.”