President assures journalists of freedom, urges restraint

Osinbajo suspends FEC meeting for rights group
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured journalists that his administration would not muzzle the press, stating that democracy and freedom of expression were kindred spirits.

Buhari saluted media practitioners in country, who, today, join their professional colleagues across the globe to mark the 2019 World Press Freedom Day.

Urging restraint from journalists in the cause of prosecuting their constitutional duties, the president cautioned media organisations against dwelling on fault lines, primordial sentiments and related ills, adding that the development had perpetually stagnated the nation.

He observed that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”, was apt considering that Nigeria recently concluded its general elections.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president enjoined the media to reflect on the deleterious effect of fake news, misinformation and disinformation before, during and after the polls.

Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday suspended the delayed Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to receive a delegation of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Wednesday’s gathering, which was rescheduled on account of the May Day celebration, was to commence at 11:00a.m.

But the absence of the vice president, who was out of Abuja for an undisclosed engagement in Lagos, necessitated its shift to 4:00p.m.

On arriving at 4:30p.m. to preside over the meeting, Osinbajo, after about three and half hours of deliberation, suspended the parley at 7:50p.m. to receive the visitors. The gathering was to drag into the night.