The Presidency on Wednesday attacked Punch newspaper for saying in its editorial that henceforth it would address President Muhammadu Buhari with his military designation – Major General.
But the presidency in a swift reaction said, “It is not within the power or rights of a newspaper to unilaterally and whimsically change the formal official title or the designation of the country’s President as it pleases.”
Presidential spokesmen Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu in a separate statement said: “It is unprecedented and absurd in our recent political history.
Shehu in the latest statement, said “Punch’s editorial today is, however, entirely in line with holding and exercising the right of free speech and freedom of the press, as my friend and colleague, Femi Adesina said earlier today.
“The Punch never changed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s title from the President to General Obasanjo, despite the latter’s refusal to comply with Supreme Court judgment, ordering him to release N30 billion of Lagos State local councils funds.
“When General Ibrahim Babangida who wasn’t democratically elected assumed the title of President, why didn’t the Punch challenge him or address him by any title it so desired?
According to the presidency, the reported new editorial policy of the Punch Newspapers to address President Muhammadu Buhari as Major General in his official title and refer to his government as a regime instead of the administration, comes to us as totally curious and utterly incredible.
