By Mfonobong Ukpong
A pro-democracy and human rights group, Centre for Human Rights Accountability Network, CHRAN, has applauded the Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of Pastor. Umo Eno for being tolerant of divergent views and dissenting opinions from the media community in the State.
Director of the Center, Otuekong Franklyn Isong made the disclosure over the weekend while delivering a paper at the Akwa Ibom Media Stakeholders summit, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, Information Drive in Uyo, the State capital.
The CHRAN boss who made comparison on the level of government’s tolerance to press freedom, submitted that since May 29th, 2023 , the Press has enjoyed a healthy environment of freedom in Akwa Ibom State, and commended Governor Eno for such act of liberty to the media community.
He stated; “The present administration in the State led by Governor Umo Bassey Eno, to my knowledge, has been tolerant of dissenting opinions and has not, through the instrument of State authority, repressed dissenting opinion or caused the remand of any journalist or individual merely for exercising the right to freedom of expression and the Press”.
But as we savour the air of Press Freedom in Akwa Ibom State, we should not lose sight of the fact that freedom of expression and the Press does not guarantee derogatory and defamatory expressions targeted at other persons and State authorities.
The CHRAN Director who is also a Media practitioner, however cautioned his colleagues on the need to always uphold the ethics of the journalism profession while discharging their duties, and warned against acts of character defamation and defamatory expressions against individuals or State authorities.
In his words; “But as we savour the air of Press Freedom in Akwa Ibom State, we should not lose sight of the fact that freedom of expression and the Press does not guarantee derogatory and defamatory expressions targeted at other persons and State authorities”.
Continuing, Otuekong Isong reminded his colleagues that rights are not infinitely elastic, and must be exercised within the confines of the law.
“For rights are not infinitely elastic but must be exercised reasonably with the rights of other persons, public order, public safety, public morality, public health, national defence and national security closely in mind as cautioned in Section 45(1) of the 1999 Constitution”.
