The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the media is free to criticize the President but not to denigrate him or his office.

The Minister said this in Abuja on Thursday in continuation of the advocacy for the National Campaign Against Fake News, which was launched in July.

He said that in the rush to de-market the President and his government, some mainstream media platforms have now resorted to the use of uncouth language to denigrate the person and office of the President.

“In fact, fake news has taken another dimension. Now, it is not uncommon for otherwise respectable media organisations to accuse the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without backing up their accusation with an iota of evidence. The latest of such occurred two days ago, when a newspaper wrote an editorial in which it resorted to the use of uncouth language to denigrate the President on the farmers-herders clashes and other issues.

”In their eagerness to de-market the President, they forget that the President is the living symbol of the nation and that by denigrating him, they are denigrating the country, including themselves,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said because of the impressive performance of the present administration, the critics know they could not take on the government on issues pertaining to performance, hence their resort to fake news.

“They are unrelenting because fake news is the only weapon they have against a performing Administration like ours. They know they cannot take on us on the issue of infrastructure, economy, fight against corruption, agricultural development, etc. They have therefore resorted to using fake news to de-market our Administration. Thankfully, they are failing,” the Minister said.

He said even though the National Campaign Against Fake News has not discouraged its purveyors, it has brought the phenomenon to the front burner and equally heightened public discourse on the dangers of fake news which, he said, has the capacity to instigate religious and ethnic crisis in the country.

Alhaji Mohammed, who described fake news as a global menace, said even though different countries have been evolving ways to deal with the issue, Nigeria’s approach is to appeal to the sense of responsibility of media practitioners, bloggers and social media influencers.

He said the government will not tow the path of coercion or censorship in the campaign against fake news, and that it believes in the capacity of the media to self-regulate, so as not to self-destruct

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/amp/163128/

You didn't remember this in 2014/2015. You can't beg karma

when I ear lai Muhammed clinch to trump's "fake news" phrase, I wonder if after all the billions allocated to ministry of information, they can't come up with an original propaganda. Well should the President decide to protect armless women and children raped and massacred by herdsmen. I might find lai's views acceptable. am sure if lai's family were killed like the middlebelt people, he would not only insult, he would curse as well

I still find
it funny that most people don't
know why Nigeria economy
went into recession, they love the
incompetent lies of lai
mohammed about the past
government ruining everything..
The truth about Nigeria's
recession and wantom kills is caused by the president's unguided
rhetoric and uncultured body language typical of clueless people.

That insult from punch editorial was too much.

denigratin GMB will b chasin shadows. i focus on issues.
Bt u started it,thinkin u wia doin GEJ,now its hunting ur govt.

Buhari is a Paedophile,a heavy masturbator when he was young and also a killer. So, what the fuc.k will you do liar Mumuhammade

It is quite unfortunate how some media tend to drag the president's name to the mud all for cheap fame. it is obvious that the President's is not just folding his arms as he is all bent in restoring law and order back to the nation.

Coming from the man that taught Nigerians to insult the seat of the presidency..

iloveyou82:
That insult from punch editorial was too much.

But you were screaming ineffectual at GEJ while calling the wife an animal a few days ago?.... yeye

Grayxme:
It is quite unfortunate how some media tend to drag the president's name to the mud all for cheap fame. it is obvious that the President's is not just folding his arms as he is all bent in restoring law and order back to the nation.

But you called another mans ambition greedy and selfish?.... see them

But Lai Mohammed did worse against GEJ

Esseite:
Coming from the man that taught Nigerians to insult the seat of the presidency..



But you were screaming ineffectual at GEJ while calling the wife an animal a few days ago?.... yeye



But you called another mans ambition greedy and selfish?.... see them

you are right,
I am not a mainstream media.
I only reply your fellow terrorists that said lifeless.

Not to denigrate the gap toothed Daura born terrorist?