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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
A former Commissioner for Information in Kano State, Muhammad Garba has advised the state government to embrace tolerance and constructive engagement with the media rather than dismiss the report by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
Garba, a former two-term National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), said that genuine collaboration between the government and the media would enhance the flow of accurate information, deepen citizens’ understanding of the government’s policies and promote transparency in governance.
In a statement, he remarked that a government that is confident enough to engage the press constructively demonstrates both strength and accountability.
“Freedom of the press is measured not by plaques or ceremonies, but by the ability of journalists to report without fear of reprisal,” he stated.
He described as contradictory the state government’s claim of promoting free speech while simultaneously using state institutions to undermine journalists and silence dissenting voices.
“The media is not an enemy of the government; it is a partner in nation-building,” Garba affirmed.
“Respecting press freedom is not only a constitutional obligation but also a mark of mature and responsive leadership,” he added.
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He stated that despite the government’s dismissal of the WSCIJ report, the growing record of arrests, intimidations and restrictive media policies in the state paints a different picture.
He urged the state government to reverse the trend and adopt a media-friendly approach that guarantees journalists’ safety and freedom, while noting that democracy could only thrive in an environment where the government and the media operate in synergy rather than hostility.
The state government had faulted the said report as mischievous, misleading and unfounded, while insisting that it had done a lot to guarantee press freedom in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Ibrahim Wayas, had maintained that the said report did not reflect the true status of media freedom and civic engagements in the state, while describing the report as “A mere expression and figment of imagination of some armchair analysts.”
He noted that Kano State remains one of the most open, media-friendly and journalist-supportive states in the federation. He buttressed the claim with the number of media-friendly awards bestowed on the Governor by various media outlets in recent times.
“These recognitions are a clear reflection of his open-door policy, accessibility, friendliness to the media, respect for journalists and communication professionals, as well as freedom of expression as guaranteed by the nation’s constitution” he stated.
He urged the WSCIJ and similar organisations to ensure professionalism, proper verification and field assessment before releasing reports that could misrepresent states like Kano, that is genuinely promoting and supporting press freedom and civic engagement.
