Benue Killings: Presidency Attacks Nigerian Media, Lambasts Those 'Beating The Gongs Of War'

 

Speaking while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential villa on Friday, the presidential senior special adviser on media and publicity, strongly condemned what it calls "an upsurge in the promotion of hate speech by the media" especially as it relates to the farmers/herders crisis in Benue state.

 

According to PREMIUM Times, the presidential spokesman said the “growing lack of respect for journalism ethics and press laws in the Nigerian media, especially regarding the clashes in Benue State is very unfortunate”.

 

He said the frequent expressions of hate speech published by newspapers, in news stories and especially in columns have become a source of concern to all Nigerians.

 

“We want to state emphatically that a segment of the Nigerian media is sinking deeper and deeper into the mesh of hate speech in spite of repeated appeals by recognised and reputable media bodies, the Government and concerned Nigerians,” he said.

“The diatribe went further to invite citizens of the country to arm themselves and fight each other. In addition, one of the newspaper’s Saturday headlines proclaimed: ‘Expect More Blood in Benue…’,” he said.

 

Mallam Garba Shehu also said apart from the basic tone of respect expected from an individual who is “supposedly intelligent and educated enough to know better since they have been granted space to write in a national newspaper, there is the risk of inciting the public to actions that will have gory consequences for the entire nation for generations to come.”

 

He also reminded those “beating the gongs of war and fanning the embers of discord” to remember what prevailed in Rwanda before the genocide of the early 90s, during which hundreds of thousands of lives were lost as a result of consistent hate speech spewing from that country’s media.

“We must learn to express our grievances and criticisms without resorting to gutter language or to name calling, and the press has a responsibility to maintain that even if it means calling their columnists to order,” he said.

 

He also said President Buhari, by the Constitution, has the primary duty of protecting life and property of all Nigerians, adding “and that is what he has been doing in Benue and across the country.”

 

Shehu appealed to the media to show more decorum and professionalism in the reportage of security and humanitarian situation in the country.