The Presidency has declared that referring to President Muhammadu Buhari by his military rank, Major General, is a testimony to the freedom of speech and freedom of the press under his administration.
The Presidency made the declaration in response to an editorial by Punch newspaper published on Wednesday.
Titled ‘Buhari’s lawlessness: Our stand’, Punch newspaper, in the editorial said because of alleged dictatorship of the administration, it would henceforth refer to Buhari as Major General instead of President.
Punch newspaper added that it would also refer to Buhari’s administration as a regime until it purged itself of disregard for the rule of law.
But reacting to the development, the Presidency, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said it was not opposed to free speech and freedom of the press.
The statement reads: “A newspaper says it will henceforth address President Muhammadu Buhari by his military rank of Major General.
“Nothing untoward in it. It is a rank the President attained by dint of hard work before he retired from the Nigerian Army. And today, constitutionally, he is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“All over the world, just as in our country, a large number of retired military officers are now democrats. It does not make those who did not pass through military service better than them.
“Rather than being pejorative, addressing President Buhari by his military rank is another testimony to free speech and freedom of the press, which this administration (or regime, if anyone prefers: it is a matter of semantics) has pledged to uphold and preserve.”
