The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, reviewed media reports regarding the Samoa Agreement, expressing deep consternation over the impression created concerning the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) agenda.
The council demanded an apology from Media Trust, publishers of Daily Trust, for its reportage, which suggested that the federal government signed the agreement to advance the LGBTQ+ agenda in the country.
Both the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, addressed the issue while briefing correspondents at the end of the council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Idris confirmed that the FEC discussed the matter, affirming that the federal government has decided to escalate it to the ombudsman and beyond if necessary.
He explained: “There was also a discussion on the report by the Daily Trust, a report that we have commented on in the past, and the position of the government on that report. The federal government insists that that report on the Samoa agreement was misleading; it was false and designed to create confusion in the land.
“My ministry briefed the Federal Executive Council on all the steps we have taken, including writing to the industry’s own ombudsman with a view to drawing the attention of the Daily Trust Newspaper about that very misleading report. We expect that the industry’s ombudsman will look at that dispassionately, and FEC will be patient to await the report of the ombudsman.
“Suffice to say, the Federal Government views that report by the Daily Trust very seriously and is urging members of the press to please report responsibly in the interest of our country.
“FEC also stated its commitment to media freedom and the freedom of expression in this country. As we have said over time, there is no intention whatsoever for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to gag the press or be seen in any way working in the way of media freedom or press freedom.
“More than ever before, the government is committed to ensuring that the media will continue to operate in an environment that is very friendly and supportive of their work as a strong pillar for the continuous enthronement of democracy in our land.
“But like we have said over and over again, we call on the Nigerian media to please show restraint in the kind of reporting that they provide for Nigerians so that fake news and misinformation will have no place in our society.”
He added, “Let me say that the principle here is that the press is actually a partner in any Democratic journey, and this administration, particularly the presidency of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, believes in freedom of expression and believes in the role of the media in ensuring that there is continuous and uninterrupted democracy in our land.
“So, the government is not desirous of doing anything that will harm that freedom of expression. But like we have said, where we feel there is an infringement, where we feel that the media itself or a section of it, in this case, Daily Trust, has erred because the government still believes that the report by Daily Trust is not correct, Nigerians have been misinformed, and in the process, a lot of damage has been done to the psyches of our people.
“People have interpreted, even without reading the report itself, the wording of Daily Trust and have taken to make sermons, therefore. This further underscores the importance of the media and what we say all the time.
“If you want to report, it is pertinent for all practitioners in the industry to ensure that you report what is correct and in the best interest of the nation.
“This is the message that the government has, and it is because of that that we have taken the industry’s own self-appointed ombudsman to look at some of the excesses.
“We have made a complaint to the ombudsman to look at the report, and we have sighted examples of where Daily Trust has gotten it wrong so that Daily Trust can come clean and also mention or apologise to the nation and the government.
“There is no harm in saying you are wrong in this one; ‘we apologise and we get it right,’ but we don’t expect that we will just sit down and keep quiet when the government feels that what a particular newspaper has written is not in the best interest of the country and it is not correct.
“It is misinformation, and therefore action needs to be taken, and the action we have taken is that, as we speak, we have lodged a complaint with the ombudsman.”
However, in his remarks, Fagbemi assured that the government will take friendly steps to deal with the issue but warned that it may be forced to do something else if that fails.
The AGF stated: “The Minister of Information and National Orientation has just told you about the disturbing report by the Daily Trust that is being handled because we are conscious of press freedom, and if you notice, this administration has not and will not tamper with press freedom, and it will not, particularly because, if you know the President, he has been an ardent supporter and believer in press freedom. In fact, that is what got him to this point.
“He is conscious of that, not only in press freedom but in fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
“That is being taken up because we want to ensure that we give it all the necessary and friendly attention before we take any further steps if it fails. I hope it doesn’t fail.
“Generally, government MDAs are available if there is any area that members of the press will like to clear, and the Freedom of Information Act is alive and being rigorously honoured and in operation.
“So, I will advise that if there is any information that the members of the press require, it should be channelled to the appropriate MDAs before going to the press.”
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