The availability of a Freedom of Information law would have reduced the confusion surrounding the status of the President’s health, former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Dan Datti Abdulkadir has said.
Mr. Abdulkadir said the dearth of information regarding Mr. Yar’Adua’s health gives room for rumour and speculation.
The academic, who spoke over the weekend during the launch of a book titled “Nigeria Press in search of Freedom,” lamented the predicament of the Nigerian media in its search for access to information.
Mr. Abdulkadir expressed concern about the president’s sickness and prayed for his recovery but advised those handling the issue to put national interest before any other interests.
“The peaceful co-existence of the country is what should bother every discerning Nigerian at this point in time,” he said.
“The true state of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health was kept away, that is why today every journalist writes whatever he or she feels is the state of the president’s health. Even though some of the remarks are uncalled for, but lack of access to information is the cause”.
He criticised those who deny the media access to information and urged lawmakers to ensure the smooth the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill.
“Those who don’t want the bill to scale through are those who have skeletons in their cupboard, because the bill will only help all of us, not the journalist alone,” he said.
“People who have something to hide are the ones afraid of the Information Bill to scale through”.
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