NPAN Backs Media Chiefs ..Favours Handover To VP Jonathan

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has restated its support for the position of media stakeholders on the constitutional logjam on the appointment of an acting President for the country.

Rising from its 2009 Annual General Meeting yesterday, the NPAN noted that more than any other stakeholder of the Nigerian society, it desires that the Nigerian media should be credible and responsible so as to contribute positively to the development of the nation, hence the recent creation by the association of the office of the  Ombudsman to check abuse by media practitioners and to allow members of the public to lodge complaints of perceived infringement by the media

Accordingly, NPAN in a statement endorsed by the President, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola and the Vice president, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf expressed its opposition to the attempt by the National Assembly to legislate on the operation of the free media by setting up a government dominated press council, adding that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right of every Nigerian to impart ideas and information, without interference. It also mandated the press to hold the government accountable to the people, and  it would be recalled that media stakeholders on Monday in Lagos held a meeting on the state of the nation, and asked President Yar’Adua to comply with the Constitution so that the country could move forward by handing over to his Vice, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. The media chiefs who wished the President quick recovery, But said it was not in the interest of the country to allow the vacuum in the Presidency to remain.

In a statement, the media stakeholders said they were appalled by the recklessness and unpatriotic politicisation of the ill-health of the President and “the dance toward darkness by our leaders”.