SSS Storms Media House
Justifies action
By Collins Edomaruse
The State Security Service (SSS) last night rationalised its siege on the premises of a news magazine, Insider Weekly and said its action was not only legitimately carried out, but justifiable.
But the management of the news magazine accused the security operatives of implementing an agenda of systematic elimination of the publication and expressed disgust with the SSS and chided it for carting away its current edition and holding one of its staff, one Mr. Raphael, in an unknown location.
But the SSS in a statement, entitled: "The storming of the premises of The Insider Weekly" said it took the action to protect the integrity of the country.
The Editor-in-chief of Insider Weekly, Mr. Osa Director told THISDAY last night that the security operatives who invaded the magazine's premises broke the walls to enter the offices and carried away valuable documenst and copies of the current edition of the magazine.
When Director was told of the reason given by the SSS, he said: "I am amused at the response of the government to our publications, it is untenable for them to embark on intimidation and physical assault under the guise of defending the President. Why did they not go to court if they feel offended by our publications? We will not be intimidated by their action"
The statement released by the SSS last night for storming the magazine premises read: "as you are all aware, the SSS is an organisation set up to partake in the upholding of the nation's sovereignty and integrity. Since the inception of the present dispensation, which marked a return to democracy, in May 1999, the Service has gone through a very comprehensive programme of re-orientation and restructuring. These are aimed at ensuring that its operations are within the ambits of the law. Apart from those responsibilities enumerated in the laws establishing the organisation, it is also guided by major policy directives of the government. Among these is the Grand Strategy for National Security, which embodies the President's vision and conception of security.
"The Grand Strategy stated in part that the concept of national security which shall apply during this administration "shall be the aggregation of the security interests of all individuals, communities, ethnic groups, entities and institutions which inhabit the territory of our great country, Nigeria."
"The service, in conforming with this vision, respects the rule of law and upholds the fundamental rights of citizens to freedom of expression. The vision of the service is succinctly put thus "the provision of an effective internal security coverage of the country within the norms of democracy and the rule of law."
"To this end, the service reactivated its Public Affairs Department in order to ensure very close liaison and mutually beneficial and respectful relationship with the press. Moreover, the organisation appreciates the role of the press as the fourth estate of the realm and a major stakeholder and partner in security magement. The responsibility and relevance of the press are as important to the nation's drive towards self-actualisation as those of any other stakeholder.
"The Nigerian press must be praised for rising up to its responsibility and challenges in the various phases of our developmental experience as a nation. As Nigerians, we owe each other a responsibility to watch our actions and correct lapses when and if necessary. This is just what we are doing in this situation.
"The service also recognises the fact that freedom by whatever denotation and connotation, is the pivot upon which development rotates. However, it is pertinent to mention that, good as fundamental human rights are, one person's rights end where the other fellow's begin. Against this backdrop, the service, in the discharge of its responsibilities to our fatherland, is constrained to move to ensure that the rights of individuals, be they civil or military, serving or retired, active or inactive, governed or governors, are not trampled upon.
"For quite sometime now, The Insider Weekly Magazine has consistently being attacking, disparaging and humiliating the person and office of the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as some notable people in government. Few examples readily come to mind here.
"In the edition of 30th July, 2001 the magazine in one of its lead stories entitled 'Aso Rock's Power Play' insinuated that 'the Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (Alhaji) is doing everything within his powers to kick our National Security Adviser, Muhammed Aliu Gusau'. This move, according to the magazine, was heating up the Presidency.
"As if that was not enough, in the period immediately before the general elections of 2003, the magazine's lead story of 18th November, 2002 equally berated the President. The cover page depicted the President behind bars with the caption 'Caging the Traitor'. It was then averred that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had dumped the President because of his declining profile and was seriously shopping for credible alternatives. Of course, we all know the end of the story, which makes it incredible.
"The publisher of the magazine, as if they have sworn to run down the President soon came out with another headline 'Obasanjo, Atiku Messy Oil Deals' in the 3rd March, 2003 edition of the magazine. Therein, it was alleged that the President and the Vice President were involved in shady oil deals, thereby making nonsense of the Federal Government's anti-corruption crusade. This was just at the eve of the election.
"Soon after the re-election precisely, in the 15th September, 2003 edition, again the magazine was at its game accusing the President of planning for a third term. It was alleged that the mere mention by the President that he was not interested in a third term signified an interest in that direction. This is quite outrageous.
"Again, in the 27th October, 2003 edition of the magazine, the personality of the President also came under severe attack. The lead story 'The Road to Tyranny' compared the President with Abacha, and declared that the latter was better. It also stated that the nation's democracy was under severe threat by its elected President. Alleged moves by the President to pave his way for becoming a dictator were chronicled to include among others; the blackmail of the National Assembly as well as the corruption and manipulation of electoral bill. The story was almost the same in the 8th December, 2003 edition, with the lead story 'The Crack Down Begins'. Therein, the President was compared with Mugabe, the Zimbabwean President, while several expletives were used to describe his person.
"At the peak of the fuel crisis in June, 2004 the magazine once again took a swipe at the President, alleging his contempt for Nigerians. It was suggested that "the President in a prolonged battle to assert his administration's sovereignty beats a hasty retreat pledging to revert fuel prices to their January levels to allow the President indulge in his favourite pastime of traveling abroad."
"This was beside the insinuation made by the same magazine on the alleged 'plot to kill Al-Mustapha' in its 26th July, 2004 edition. The magazine had suggested that 'nowhere except six feet below the earth would be secure for the erstwhile Chief Security Officer (CSO).'
"The latest of all these subversive publication is the current edition captioned 'Why OBJ wants to kill NLC.' The magazine insinuated that the President has assembled men and materials for a final onslaught on Nigerians to amend the constitution for a third term beginning from 2007.
"While we do not wish to comment on the Bill for an Act to Amend the Trade Union Act so as not to prejudice the action of the National Assembly, it is necessary to arrest the deliberate mischief and misinformation contained in a magazine meant for the consumption of the Nigerian people.
"The magazine's report that the Lower House quickly worked on the Bill and brought it back to the committee was false. Likewise, it is untrue that the presidency ordered the police to prevent organised labour from holding a rally at the National Assembly. It is equally pertinent to correct the false impression that people friendly bills are made to suffer bureaucratic delays since the Freedom of Information Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 2nd September, 2004, while the Media Practitioners Bill was just withdrawn by its sponsors for further consultations.
"As I said earlier on, democracy is about freedom and good governance. A man's right to swing his arms ends where the other fellow's nose begins. The attempt by the publisher of Insider Weekly magazine to continually distort facts and misrepresent noble ideals of the present administration to the innocent public is not only libelous, seditious and subversive but also treasonable. It is therefore unacceptable. The press owes the general public the duty of being fed with factual and accurate information. It is part of their freedom.
"The President also deserves respect as a person and that is part of his own freedom. Moreso, he is the symbol of our national identity. It therefore behoves this service, in an attempt at ensuring a fair treatment for all and sundry, to do something to stem this tide of irresponsible and unprofessional trend.
"It should be emphasised that it is unacceptable for a bunch of reckless and unprofessional journalists to constantly run down the highsymbol of government in the country, thus exposing our democracy to ridicule and contempt.
"Journalism is a noble profession in which practitioners have the social responsibility to ensure the survival of democracy and, by extension, the unity and shared values of the country. Thus, the profession cannot be left to mercenaries who are known to get paid to publish and be damned. The question is - wherein lies the patriotism and loyalty that constitute the hallmark of this noble profession?
"Let me say without mincing words that this service has exhausted all avenues humanly possible to dissuade the publishers from deliberately dealing in falsehood, or at least exercise some level of restraint in the process, to no avail. We are therefore left with no other choice than to act decisively."
An official of the SSS who brought the statement to THISDAY last night said the Insider Weekly official they took along had been released. "He was only taken to our office to show him where their materials are kept."
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