Tracereporters –Concerned Northern Media Practitioners (CONMEP), has condemned the recent attempt by Minister of State Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammed Matawalle Maradun, to gag the media. This move, orchestrated through a proxy and a court in Bichi, Kano State, undermines the constitutional role of the media as enshrined in Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Nigeria’s democratic journey has been shaped by the media’s tireless efforts to promote good governance, transparency and accountability. Journalists and media practitioners have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the chairman Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir and the secretary Andrew Ibrahim Mshelia, the group said the role of the media in restoring democracy cannot be overemphasized, just as some journalists and media practitioners lost their lives in the struggle.
Minister Matawalle’s actions raise serious concerns. By targeting Shuaibu Mungadi of Vision Media Services and Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan of Liberty Radio and Television, among others, Matawalle seeks to stifle critical reporting. Ironically, these same issues have been widely covered by national dailies, radios, and televisions. There must be a hidden motive of targeting these two, especially in Northern Nigeria.
We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Minister Matawalle to order, safeguard democracy from those undermining the media’s constitutional role.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice must ensure judges are not exploited for selfish purposes, protecting the judiciary’s integrity.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation must safeguard the media from intimidation, harassment, and international ridicule.
Today’s target may be Vision and Liberty, but tomorrow it could be any media outlet. We must stand united against attempts to silence the press. Democracy demands nothing less.
We feel strongly that if Matawalle as Defence Minister, State, had his way, the military would be shutting down media houses for doing their job, like we saw in recent past with Media Trust that the military invaded their premises, confiscated prints, equipment and hindered their operations.
Ironically, the issues Matawalle is seeking the court to stop Shuaibu Mungadi of Vision Media Services and Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan of Liberty Radio and Television among others from reporting, have been reported by many national dailies, radios and televisions. Why single out the two and their media outfits.
Similarly, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) interest group – APC Akida Forum – have protested at the headquarters of the State Security Services (SSS), demanding an investigation of Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, over same issues of alleged links with bandits.
In a statement, the group’s chairperson, Musa Mahmud, called on the SSS to investigate, to save millions of Nigerians and safeguard the integrity of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies.
This followed earlier call by the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who urged same Matawalle to resign from his ministerial position to clear his name. Governor Lawal accused the former governor and his predecesor of keeping terrorists at the Government House, Gusau, alleging that ransom was paid to terrorists through the government under Mutawalle
Governor Lawal said he “reported the minister” to the National Security Adviser and President Tinubu and presented some facts to them.
No gainsaying that the notorious and wanted bandit leader, Bello Turji in several videos also made allusion to complicity of Matawalle in the insecurity ravaging, the North West, especially Zamfara State. So, is the minister justifying all the above allegations by attempts to gag the media using the judiciary?
