The Presidency has said Nigerians, including Media outfits are allowed to address President Muhammadu Buhari by his military rank of Major General since the government promotes freedom of speech in the country.
Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, revealed this as he reacted to Punch Newspapers deciding to address the president by his rank of Major-General from now on.
According to him, Buhari got the rank through hard work and he is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces constitutionally.
He added that Buhari’s government will stick to its promise of the freedom of the press.
His words, ”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.”
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