Punch And Its Sinister Motives For Attacks On President Buhari By Garba Shehu

The reported new editorial policy of the Punch Newspapers to
address President Muhammadu Buhari as Major General in his official
title and refer to his government as a regime instead of
administration, comes to us as totally curious and utterly
incredible.

The paper claimed that it is changing President Buhari’s
official title to General because of his government’s alleged
disregard for the rule of law.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for that is his title, and
he was indeed a Major General, but today retired from that position
and now twice democratically elected president of Nigeria – is not
the choice of Punch Newspaper’s editors and owners, that is
clear.

He is, however, the two-time electoral choice of the voters of
Nigeria, those very people who Punch Newspapers described this
morning as “lethargic”: a disdaining epithet apportioned to decent,
hard-working, everyday Nigerians for not agreeing with, and for not
having voted in line with their publication’s editorial and
political opinions.

Punch’s editorial today is, however, entirely in line with
holding and exercising the right of free speech and freedom of the
press, as my friend and colleague, Femi Adesina said earlier
today.

Femi, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity said the fact the
Punch can insult the President in a front page editorial and they
go home to sleep, peacefully, is the best testimony to the
prevalence of the freedom of the press and of expression in the
country.

To quote him, “rather than being pejorative, addressing
President Buhari by his military rank is another testimony to free
speech and freedom of the press, which this administration (or
regime, if anyone prefers: it is a matter of semantics) has pledged
to uphold and preserve.”

In countries around the world where this right does not exist,
newspapers do not publish articles such as the one Punch did today;
nor do they get to express political opinions contrary to that of
government. The exact freedoms Punch claims are missing are
self-evident here – in print, on the internet – for all Nigerians
and the whole world to see.

There is nothing wrong with expressing contrary opinions to this
government – nor being in opposition to the president: this is the
right of very Nigerian.

However, calling for the armed overthrow of the democratically
elected administration is a different matter entirely: this Punch
has in no way done – but others who they seek to defend, have.

There is the difference. Punch: oppose the government as much as
you want to.

We welcome your contribution to the debate. But we ask you not
to throw insults at the good voters of Nigeria for not agreeing to
your choice at the last election.

Oppose in good humour: for that is the mark of the true democrat
– that which you purport to be.

It is not within the power or rights of a newspaper to
unilaterally and whimsically change the formal official title or
the designation of the country’s President as it pleases.

It is unprecedented and absurd in our recent political history.
The Punch never changed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s title from
the President to General Obasanjo, despite the latter’s refusal to
comply with Supreme Court judgment, ordering him to release N30
billion of Lagos State local councils funds.

When General Ibrahim Babangida who wasn’t democratically elected
assumed the title of President, why didn’t the Punch challenge him
or address him by any title it so desired?

In fact, IBB closed media houses for several months and years,
including Punch.

But the paper didn’t stop addressing him as President, despite
the fact that he wasn’t elected.

It is obvious that the Punch newspapers are playing partisan
opposition politics which has nothing to do with journalism.

The Constitution of Nigeria recognises the President as the
formal official title of the occupant of that office. Can the Punch
newspapers, in their hubris address the President as Prime Minister
as it pleases?

Is it within the paper’s responsibility or power to change the
official title of the man who occupies the office of the President?
Does that mean any newspaper is free to address the Comptroller
General of Customs a Colonel rather than his official title?

The Punch newspaper should separate journalism from partisan
politics. What it is embarking upon is purely political and it is
designed to play to the gallery and cause confusion.

Punch Newspaper’s double standards in cuddling some of our past
dictators and their open contempt for President Buhari clearly show
that the paper has sinister motives for its current curious
editorial judgment. Its personal hatred for and animus towards
President Buhari should not be allowed to becloud its good
judgment.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 12, 2019