By Isaiah Ekpenyong
All over the world, there are codes of conduct for broadcasting stations and broadcasters. This is done to enable decency and make sure that what is broadcasted is devoid of impartiality, hatred, and that at all times, fairness is uphold.
The reasons put forward by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation NBC for sanctioning AIT and Ray Power FM, creates an urgent need for Nigerian researchers to research into what is impartiality, hatred, and fairness in Nigeria context. Though these reasons put forward by NBC for sanctioning AIT and the rest may sound cogent in the ears of those who support the present government, in the ears of a rational mind, it is very absurd to believe that broadcasting comments of Nigerians on social media which explicitly is the views of the comentors, is grave enough to close down a television and radio station.
Though it is right for broadcasting stations and broadcasters to obey broadcasting rules and regulations set down by every country, so as not to allow a repeat of Rwanda anywhere else, setting down obnoxious rules by government anywhere to stifle and suppress freedom of speech which is a fundamental human right is in itself injustice done to humanity.
The Nigerian case is pathetic, the head of NBC is a card carrying member of the All Progressive Congress, the ruling party. The head of the NBC, Kawu Midibo is currently standing trial for corruption and in a government that is widely believed that no matter how corrupt you are, as soon as you join the government in fighting opposition, your sins will be forgiven, the suspension of the licenses of AIT and Ray Power FM by Kawu Modibu creates no doubt in every sane mind that he is either acting a script given to him or he is just trying to impress his paymasters so as to drop the corruption charges against him.
Nigerians should watch it. Though President Muhammdu Buhari had said that he is now a repented Democrat, his body odour smells that of Major General Muhammadu Buhari who never wanted to hear anything about press in 1983 to 1985. The contents for which AIT broadcasted are well known facts even to the blind. Is it impartial for AIT to broadcast the frustration of Nigerians on social media who sees the appointments of the President as an attempt to Islamize Nigeria? If this is not true, why not the President acts contrary to this widely believe rather than try to close down the TV station? Is it not true that the style of leadership of the President has made Nigerians so tired of this country except the president and his kinsmen and some few others who are observing table manners now? What is new about Fulani herdsmen killing people everywhere? That the government has succeeded in silencing very other media house including Channels Television, must they destroy AIT to be satisfied?
If the next level agenda is to destroy all media houses to make sure that the world no more hear us to accomplish the mission, then cracking down on AIT and RAY Power FM is long overdue, let them go ahead. Nigeria is now a banners republic
Ekpenyong Isaiah,
Commander, Infantry Pen Battallion
isacool4good@yahoo.com
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