The International Press Institute Nigeria on Tuesday released its Book of Infamy, naming Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, and two state governors for alleged press-unfriendly directives, while honouring the Director General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The document was unveiled by Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the second Annual Conference of IPI Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
IGP Egbetokun was faulted for allegedly ignoring the institute’s appeal to stop the “arbitrary arrests of journalists nationwide by his operatives.”
On his part, Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno, was accused of barring Channels TV reporters from entering the Akwa Ibom Government House to cover governance activities.
For Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, the committee said he ordered the shutdown of a private radio station, Badeggi FM, compounding pressure on press freedom.
While the Director General of the DSS was described as “a listening head of a sensitive government agency who has listened to interventions by the IPI and corrected wrongdoings pointed out to him.”
His most notable achievement was the removal of veteran journalist, Lanre Arogundade, from the government’s terrorism watch list after 40 years, following advocacy-based intervention.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who was the Special Guest at the event, also spoke on the essence of an independent press for democracy’s survival.
He said, “But as we gather today, our first duty must be to a shared foundation of facts. We must ask: does this theme describe our present reality, or does it risk anchoring us to a sad past we are actively working to transcend?
“If the theme suggests an active, systemic policy of repression by the current administration, then we must, with respect, interrogate it against the available evidence.
“A dialogue on freedom cannot itself be detached from fact. It is in that spirit of candour and shared purpose that I stand before you today, not to reel out a list of government achievements, but to present evidence and engage in a critical dialogue about the path we are walking together towards a more accountable and sustainable democracy.
“Let me state without any ambiguity that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu operates on the fundamental principle that a sure-footed, critical, and independent press is the central nervous system of a functioning democracy.
“It is significantly the mechanism through which a nation holds a conversation with itself. Our presence here today, under the chairmanship of His Excellency the Vice President, is a deliberate signal of our commitment to that conversation.”
The Minister said security agencies now operate under stricter protocols to respect the rights of journalists in conflict zones and during civil demonstrations.
He said the Tinubu administration has continued to ensure the proper assurances of an enabling environment for licensed media establishments to thrive and amplify the voices of our people without ambiguity or fear.
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