Zainab Suleiman Okino
Since Friday, last week, the government has engaged in an aggressive crackdown of newspapers under the dubious claim of routine security operations. They raided delivery vans, harassed vendors, and stopped them from selling copies. I thought the era of military tactics of muzzling and gagging the press was over for good? Whoever advised this government to engage in a media war, instead of squaring up with Boko Haram, did not do it any good.
The backlash will be too grievous for their image. The roles of the executive and the media (the fourth estate of the realm) are well defined in the constitution. One cannot demonise the other. This regime is best advised to do the business of governance very well and allow the media to do theirs. Any altercation that arises from that can be settled in a court of competent jurisdiction.
