The Executive Director paradigm initiative ‘Gbenga Sesan has called on journalists to rise up against plans by the Nigerian government to adopt the style of oppressive leaders which could violate the rights of citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
Sesan made the call during an online training of journalists with the theme: “Understanding Digital Rights” which was organized by Human Rights Journalists Network.
Sesan explained that it is quite worrisome that a democratic government is tilting towards the style of the oppressive leaders/government to wanting to censor Freedom of Expression, a Fundamental Human Rights of the Citizen guaranteed by law.
He noted that if journalists should rise up to stand against a repressive government, it will not stand.
“It is no more a rumour that this government is using the Cybercrime Law to harass, arrest and even wrongly jailed Journalists, for simply writing about the ills in the society.
“This amounts to censorship of the media, no doubt about it.
“And the government had tried to do it before, through the Hate Speech Law, but thanks to all Nigerians who rose against it.
“However, the ugly law is rating its head again in the name of Cybercrime Law,” said Sesan.
He stressed that Digital Rights are Human rights and as such journalists should consider all efforts to gag the online media as efforts to infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.