TheNewsGuru

Tag: press

  • Ten Hag slams press on Ronaldo claims

    Ten Hag slams press on Ronaldo claims

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hit back at the media after his public criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Ten Hag told Dutch media he found it “unacceptable” that Ronaldo had left before the final whistle of last Sunday’s preseason friendly with Rayo Vallecano.

    But the manager said today: “Now I have to point, there were many players who left but the spotlight is on Cristiano, that is not right, so do your research and make out many players left, that was what was said.

    “There were a lot of players.

    “I’m really happy, I told you before, we have a top striker, really happy he’s here with the squad and we stick to the plan.”

    United kickoff their season this weekend against Brighton.

  • La Liga: I can’t win the battle with the press – Koeman

    La Liga: I can’t win the battle with the press – Koeman

    Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman blasted match referee Carlos del Cerro Grande after receiving a red card during his side’s 0-0 draw with Cadiz, claiming: “In this country, they send you off for nothing!”

    Barca extended their recent winless run to three matches in all competitions after a stalemate at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Thursday night.

    “One of the problems is in Spain they send you off for nothing,” Koeman told La Liga TV. “They don’t say why, they just say attitude. Everyone saw the moment there was a second ball on the pitch. Everyone has to see that.

    “I am strong of course. I can’t win the battle with the press. I will put my energy into the team and with the players. I still see a fantastic attitude of the players and for me that is most important. I can’t stop what the press are writing. We have to continue, that is my job.”

    The pressure is building on Koeman after a start to the season which has seen the Catalan giants draw three of their first five league games and lose 3-0 to Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League group-stage game last week.

    The former Barcelona midfielder has not been helped by the club’s perilous financial position, which saw Lionel Messi exit the club in the summer and has left the manager with a young and inexperienced squad.

    TheNewsGuru reported earlier that, Thierry Henry has emerged as a candidate for Ronald Koeman’s job at Camp Nou, his name has been raised inside Barca boardroom.

    Henry is currently assistant coach to Roberto Martinez with Belgium national team.

  • We do not intend to stifle press – Lai Mohammed

    We do not intend to stifle press – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the Federal Government (FG) do not intend to stifle the press and that the FG is not the sponsor of the bills purportedly meant to stifle the press.

    The minister, who stated this on Friday in Lagos in an interview, said the bills concerning the Nigerian Press Council and the National Broadcasting Commission were private member bills sponsored by a lawmaker in the National Assembly,

    “First, let me say how disappointed I am that those who have been berating me on these bills have been doing so on a false premise that the Federal Government had sponsored bills to stifle the press.

    ”This is a classic case of misinformation because the Federal Government did not sponsor any bill to gag the press.

    “It baffles me that those who rushed to the media to slam the government didn’t even try to verify the facts,’’ he said

    The mnister clarified that the National Assembly member who sponsored the bills had done nothing wrong.

    He said the legislator was only doing what he was elected to do.

    “I insist that the bills were not sponsored by the Federal Government.

    “I was invited, as the Minister of Information and Culture, to make my contributions, just like many other stakeholders at the public hearing.

    “It was an opportunity for stakeholders to make their input into the bills.

    ”I attended and made my contributions,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said those falsely accusing the Federal Government and misinforming the public on the bills had a chance to make their contributions during the public hearing.

    He said rather than show up at the National Assembly’s sponsored public hearing on the bills, they chose to play to the gallery.

    The minister said: “The Nigerian Press Organisation, which represented the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, appeared there merely for appearance sake.

    “Instead of strongly stating their reservations on the bill on the Nigerian Press Council, they were more interested in stopping the hearing, hinging their argument on the case at the Supreme Court on the Press Council.

    “It is a shame that some of us love democracy so much but hate the fine details of democracy and its processes.

    “These critics will rather play to the gallery than do the needful.

    “Why didn’t these critics show up at the much-publicised public hearing on these bills?

    “Why have they instead opted to go hysterical in the media and to point accusing fingers at the Federal Government as the sponsor of the bills when indeed that is not true?”

    The minister advised the critics of the bills to engage with the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to convey their reservations.

    He said they should stop engaging in cheap blackmail and misinformation, stressing “you cannot like democracy and abhor its processes.’’

    The House of Representatives Committee organised the public hearing on five bills on June 16 and June 17.

    One of the bills is “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Broadcasting Act to strengthen the Commission and make it more Effective.’’

    The other is a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act to enable the Council effectively carry out its regulatory role on media practice.

  • How Nigerian press contributed to collapse of First Republic – Adedayo

    Dr Festus Adedayo, a Special Adviser on Media in the former Abiola Ajimobi administration in Oyo State, on Thursday said that the Nigerian press contributed to the collapse of the First Republic.

    Adedayo said this on Thursday in Ibadan during the unveiling of the Book, “70 years of Progressive Journalism: The Story of Nigerian Tribune.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unveiling of the book was in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Publishers of the Tribune Titles.

    NAN also reports that the book presentation, which was held at the International Conference Centre , University of Ibadan, also featured platinum recognition and awards.

    The book presentation and the Platinum is the grand finale of the year-long celebration.

    The former special adviser said that while the press in the First Republic, was a catalyst for independence, it also gave rise to civic cynicism with its feisty publications.

    “The press was implicated in the collapse of the First Repbulic and it can not absolve itself from the collapse of the First Republic.

    “If you read the newspapers of the First Republic you will be alarmed by the vitriolic attacks with which the newspaper press operated then,” he said.

    Adedayo said that the Nigerian press since the First Republic had, however, evolved and had become more ethical in its conduct.

    He said that the Nigerian media saddled with enormous responsibility of being the society’s watchdog, must remain objective and maintain high level of professionalism at all times if it was to survive in the age of social media.

    “There is much differences between writers of today and those in the First Republic, they are more circumspect and cautious.

    “However, the profession has been infiltrated by quacks who act irresponsibly.

    “The press is almost nearing its death because the social media is eclipsing the press, but the publishers are becoming more incentive by taking advantage of the online platform of new publication, “he said.

    He also appealed to the lawmakers to kill the “Hate-Speech Bill.”

    In his review of the book, he said the founder of the Nigerian Tribune, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had the conviction that the press would be a tool of emancipation from any kind of oppression.

    Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, in his remarks at the occasion, said that the press had been a significant force in the country’s national development.

    “The newspaper was a major influence in the reawakening of racial and political consciousness.

    “The media has significant role to play in mobilising the people to participate in the democratic process,” he said.

    Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, the Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN), said that Awolowo had predicted the intractable insurgence in the North-East of the country.

    “The founders of the Nigerian Tribune were very clear from the beginning about the kind of newspaper they were planting on 16 November, 1949.

    “It is not going to be just any other newspaper, the Tribune was going to be a leader in courage and an exemplary of forthrightness.

    ” Seventy years down the road, we are happy that every hope, plan and aspiration of our founders have been realised.

    “Seven decades of success, battles and victories and of dreams come true, are what we are celebrating here today with the presentation of our commemorative books,” she said.

    According to her, the awaredees including Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, PA Reuben Fashoronti and Chief Adeniyi Koleoso, were carefully selected for the anniversary honors; in recognition of their patriotism, philanthropic efforts and commitment to the development and survival of the country.

  • Senate President denies shutting out press from legislative business

    Senate President denies shutting out press from legislative business

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said on Monday that it was share misrepresentation of fact to say that journalists were not allowed to cover the budget defence sessions going on at the National Assembly.

    Lawan was reacting to report published in some dailies last week that the media were shut out of the coverage of the budget defence at the various Senate committees.

     

    “There is no shut out of the press from what we do,” Lawan told reporters.

    “We need the press to tell Nigerians what we are doing. You (journalists) are our friends. That was a misunderstanding (of what happened),” Lawan said.

    The Senate President said it should be expected that journalists, at some point, may be excused from such meetings when sensitive issues that bother on national security are being discussed.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that whatever we do in this Senate and indeed in this National Assembly is in the best interest of Nigeria. We will not compromise on anything as far as the national interest is concerned,” Lawan said.

     

  • Press Freedom: Dokpesi stages one-man protest

    The Founder and Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, owner of RayPower FM, African Independent Television (AIT) and FAAJI FM, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is protesting against plots by the APC led Federal Government to gag the media and suppress free speech.

    High Chief Dokpesi will be staging a “One Man Demonstration” to the National Assembly on Thursday, June 6, 2019 after a world Press Conference at AIT Complex, Gbaduma Hill, Asokoro, Abuja by 8:00Am

    We invite ALL Nigerians and the International Community to note this obvious act of brigandage against freedom of speech and association as clearly expressed in our constitution.

    AIT and RayPower have not violated any code of broadcasting as alleged by the NBC. The NBC and the government in power are not comfortable with the broadcast industry because of its courageous and dogged stance in informing Nigerians on happenings in the country.

    We are in a Democracy and must all rise to defend Nigeria from anti democratic forces.
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  • I’m disappointed in Nigerian press – Buhari

    I’m disappointed in Nigerian press – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is disappointed in the Nigerian press.
     
    He said his grouse was that the media did not give his administration the credit for the agricultural revolution he said was ongoing in the country.
     
    Buhari spoke while hosting some young political appointees to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday night.
     
    “I’m very disappointed in the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the “Go back to the land” programme. We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 per cent,” the President said.
     
    He noted that many Nigerians were abandoning white collar jobs daily and embracing farming because of his government’s reform programme in the sector.
     
    Under his watch, Buhari also said Nigeria had achieved food security.
     
    He justified his appointment of Chief Audu Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture, saying the appointment was based on his antecedents.
     
    He said the nation could not have a better person than Ogbeh whom he said had invested so much in agriculture and had also suffered.
     
    “Ogbeh went to a bank, borrowed money and invested in agriculture. He suffered but eventually, he paid the money.
     
    “So, you cannot have a better person than somebody who has suffered in the sector,” he said.
     
    Buhari again blamed the Peoples Democratic Party for allegedly wasting the commonwealth of Nigerians during the 16 years the party was in power at the federal level.
     
    He reiterated his position that there was nothing to show for the huge resources that accrued to the country during the period.
     
    Like he did a few weeks back, Buhari queried the $16bn said to have been expended on the power sector during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
     
    Although he did not mention Obasanjo’s name, it was during his administration that the sum was said to have been spent on the power sector.
     
    “There was no power and they said they spent $16bn on power. Where is it (power)?” the President asked.
     
    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, claimed that the PDP didn’t achieve one-tenth of theAPC achievements in its 16 years in power.
     
    While saying that the present administration had achieved so much, Mustapha promised to make available a document which he said captured what the government had been able to achieve in less than four years.

  • IPI World Congress: Saraki Seeks Partnership between the Press and Parliament

    Ahead of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress being hosted by Nigeria in June this year, the President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday called for a closer collaboration between the press and the parliament in the overall interest of the nation’s democracy and better dividends for the people.

    Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, made the call when the Executive Director of the IPI and members of the local organizing committee of its forthcoming world congress comprising media proprietors, and senior reporters and editors visited him in Abuja.

    He said that he is excited that Nigeria is hosting this year’s edition of the world congress of the IPI and described the upcoming event as a great opportunity not only for the global press to have a better understanding of the country “but to give us an opportunity to be able to interact more in the interest not only of understanding issues here in Nigeria, Africa and the global world because to some of us we really believe that the growth and stability of the world today depends on what happens in Africa and in Nigeria.

    “I believe that when the world start getting accurate information about what happens in Nigeria, I think the world will be a better place for it,” he said.

    He added: “I must appreciate your remarks. Apart from the issue of the freedom of the press, there is a point you kept on hammering about which is the issue of quality reporting and accurate reports.

    “These are issues that I believe that as our democracy strives to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of the press, which is very good here in Nigeria, I think the responsibility we keep in asking the media is how also do we improve on the quality of reporting.

    “I think it goes a long way to strengthen our democracy when we strengthen the quality, not just of free press but quality free press. I think that is an area that is very important.

    “I use this opportunity to also say that the strengthening of democracy of the country will rest not only in the media but also the legislative arm of government because we do basically the same thing in a way.

    “The legislature ensures that the executive arm of government is accountable to the people the same way that the media ensures that all those who are in government are accountable to the people.

    “So, we really should be partners in progress and work closely together. That is still not happening and I think that there is need for us to continue to do that based on the understanding that we are on the same side.

    “And I think what is important is that institutions like ours must be strengthened and when we strengthen our institutions and not individuals because some of us would come and go, we must strengthen those institutions if we want to strengthen our democracy.

    “I want to use this opportunity to seek that we should continue to see how closely the press and parliament can work more closely as institutions and not as individuals. I think this will go a long way in ensuring that our people are better served and benefit from the whole process,” Saraki stated.

    Earlier the Executive Director of the IPI, Barbara Traofi, said the visit was both meant to get the support of the local media and government for the proposed event.

    Traofi said: “The space that the state can offer to quality journalism is vital not only in the sense of being hands off, but also in the sense of proactively giving the journalism community the safety they need to work professionally to get the information they need about the decision of the state, the decision of the Senate, and the decision of the government so that they can come cover it in a most accurate way.

    “In view of all these I am most thankful to you and I am very glad to know that you and the institution you represent is in support of this event.

    “I reiterate the request and the hope that you will consider joining not only the congress but also addressing our esteemed delegates during the course of the congress, I think that when the world editors and journalists come to Nigeria, because they want to understand the progress that this country has been doing.

    “So what we in our communication about the upcoming congress have been sharing, we feel this is the right moment for IPI to be in Nigeria because so much has been happening in the right direction and Nigeria is certainly Africa’s most populous country and one of the world’s leading economies.

    “So I think it is time the world not only covers what is going on in Nigeria, but covers it accurately having been in contact with the most trusted sources from the country,” she stated.

    The IPI is a network of global journalists, editors and publishers, dedicated to the promotion of free press and good governance from around the world.

  • Arrest of Premium Times journalists: We have nothing to do with it – FG

    The Federal Government has assured not to do anything to stifle press freedom in the country stressing that it understands a free press was vital to the success of democracy anywhere in the world.

    In a statement issued by Minister of Information and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and obtained by TheNewsGuru.com, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

    Mohammed was particularly referring to the arrest of the Publisher of an online medium, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi and a

    reporter working for the paper, Ms. Evelyn Okakwu, by the police in Abuja last week.

    He said the issue that led to the arrest of the two journalists was a personal one and that it had nothing to do with the government.

    He said even the Federal Government would not even tamper with the social media despite its shortcomings.

    He said, “The Federal Government will not do anything to stifle press freedom, because it is keenly aware that a free press is vital to the success of any democracy.

    “The Federal Government has nothing to do with the recent arrest of Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of the online newspaper Premium Times, and a reporter working for the paper, Ms. Evelyn Okakwu.”

    He said the whole issue of the journalists’ arrest is purely a private affair involving a citizen and a privately-owned newspaper, and wondered how that could now be construed as an attempt by the government to intimidate the press.

    The minister said, “We have said it before and we want to re-state it: The Federal Government has no immediate or long-term plan to stifle press freedom.

    “Even the social media, with its warts and all, will neither be regulated nor have its operations tampered with.”

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com recently a report in which President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his respect for Nigerian media.

  • IPC condemns recent attacks on journalists

    The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has condemned recent attacks on three Nigerian journalists as well as the clampdown on media organizations in Gambia.

    IPC in its recent update report on monitoring of the safety of journalists reveals that not less than three journalists have been arrested in Nigeria and two private radio stations shut down in Gambia.

    It would be recalled that Teranga FM and Hilltop Radio stations in Banjul Gambia were closed on the 8th of January by the Gambian security forces under the instruction of President Jammeh.”

    According to the media monitoring report update by IPC, three Nigerian Journalists have been arrested by security forces in recent times:

    (i) Nsebiet John of The Ink, an Akwa-Ibom based newspaper on the 6th of January was detained for a night in police cell, arraigned and granted bail to the sum of #250,000 in Akwa-Ibom over a story he published alleging that the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, “pockets” #250 million monthly as security votes from the state governor.

    (ii) Jerry Edoho, News Editor of Ibom Nation, a local newspaper based in Akwa-Ibom was on 6th of January also picked up in Uyo by police personnel from the Force headquarters in Abuja over a Facebook post he published referencing a rumored Dana Air crash and asking his readers to help verify the story.

    (iii) Daniel Ekiugbo, Publisher of Ugheli Times Magazine, in Delta who was whisked away from his private residence on October 25, 2016 by a crack team of men of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) is still being detained by the DSS over an article he published on the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.

    Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement said it is certainly not acceptable in a democratic system of governance that journalists will continue to be at the receiving end of aggression by persons in authority.

    “It is quite unfortunate that individuals in authority derive pleasure in being threats to journalists. It is certainly an abuse of power to arrest a journalist or shut down a station because you are not satisfied with what is being published/broadcast, there are better measures to take if you feel discredited,” Arogundade stated.

    IPC therefore calls on all leaders of Nigeria and Gambia to use their positions to take quick actions in favour of individuals and organizations affected.

    IPC also applauds the NUJ and civil society groups like SERAP and Grassroot Mobilisers who have risen to condemn the act. The organization urges other civil activists to continue to condemn and take actions in rising against acts that infringes on not only journalists’ rights, but also rights of the citizens in general.