[dropcap]D[/dropcap]uring the 2015 campaign and election Nigeria witnessed an unprecedented, unfettered, and unbridled level of freedom of expression in the media. While it’s true that democracy gives people freedom, but we ignored the fact that true freedom comes with responsibility and self-restraint. The All Progressives Congress, APC, the then opposition and now ruling party, was the most vicious abuser of this democratic atmosphere.
Yes, they were unarguably so many things to criticize the then Goodluck Jonathan-led government for, but I still maintain that we can criticize without being vulgar and uncivil.
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But, we lost all forms of civility and decorum, we cursed, we insulted, called him and his wife all sorts of names. We even rejoiced when some foreign journalists and politicians in UK and in US insulted him publicly (something they couldn’t do to their own government).
I considered that episode the height of folly for us as a nation. The office of the President witnessed a colossal crash of honour and reverence. I was vocal about the dangers of such decline, I spoke about the long term effect long after Jonathan’s departure. I remembered specifically warning that we have set in motion a trend that cannot be reversed.
Criticizing wrong policies and corruption are part of the civil responsibility not only of the opposition but of every patriotic citizen and I did publicly criticized some of former President Jonathan’s moves before he handed over office.
However, criticism must be done with some common sense. It therefore beats my imagination when I see some of the perpetrators and the beneficiaries (the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Muhammadu Buhari) of those vicious and devious campaign of calumny turn around to complain, condemn, or threaten those practicing the trade they were well taught.
This is unbelievable, it’s the height of hypocrisy. Even a little child knows that you’ll reap what you sow.
How can you criticize or clampdown on something you INITIATED, PERPETRATED, And PERPETUATED?
My advice is, fasten your seat belt ‘cos’ it’s going to be a long and tortuous ride – this is part of the NEW NIGERIA!
Again I announce here that the worse mistake would be to attempt to persecute, intimidate, or clampdown on media activist, that will amount to tactlessly turning many bystanders into committed activists. One African adage says that the same cane used to flog the first wife would be used to flog the second.
Those who support the clampdown or chose to be curiously silent about it because they’re not presently affected by it will discover that they will be affected someday, it’s just a matter of time.
To the media activist out there, my advice is speak the truth at all time, be objective regardless of your political persuasion, and be as courteous as you can be.
However never ever cower under ANY form of threat or intimidation, respect authority but BE NOT AFRAID of any mortal. Use every threat as further motivation to make the government accountable, let it be the fire that will burn down all forms of anti-democratic dispositions in the system.
You’re a free man in your fatherland, you’re not a second-class citizen, you’re free let NO one put you under any bondage.
Even if you’re locked up you still remain a free man, with freedom of opinion, freedom of thought, and freedom of convictions- let NO one take that away from You!
You were born free, STAY FREE!
Lawrence Onochie is senior pastor of The Kings Heritage and the author of several books including, Against All Odds. He is also Chief Executive Officer of Laurel Noche Consulting, a human development training organisation. He is a former missions director of House On The Rock, Lagos. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
