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Condemnations Greeted Channels TV’s Approval by NBC in an IPOB Interview.
Condemnations Greeted Channels TV’s Approval by NBC in an IPOB Interview.
NewsReport Nigeria April 27, 2021
Nigerians on social media, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, and the Peoples Democratic Party have slammed the National Broadcasting Commission for sanctioning Channels Television by demanding the cancellation of one of its programs, “Politics Today.”
Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, the Commission’s Acting Director-General, had accused the TV station of conducting interviews in a letter a chief of the Indigenous People of Biafra without “caution or reprimand,” according to reports.
NewsReport Nigeria reports that SERAP, for its part, urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and NBC to revoke the unreasonable, unethical, and unlawful decision to blacklist the television station.
Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy chief, said, “The suspension is unlawful, immoral, coercive, and without any legal justification whatsoever.”
This online information gathered that the intervention by the government and NBC is yet another manifestation of Nigerian authorities’ efforts to muzzle critical media and voices. The government and NBC lift the suspension and uphold the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and international agreements to respect and defend free speech and media rights.
“The media has a critical role to play as a ‘public watchdog’ in disseminating information of substantial public concern and should not be hindered or intimidated in doing so. The federal government and NBC should cease threatening and harassing critical media and voices.
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“President Muhammadu Buhari should warn the NBC to avoid threatening and abusing independent media outlets, as well as to uphold the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights commitments, including those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Furthermore, the Peoples Democratic Party called the reported suspension of the program due to a suspected breach of the broadcasting code “draconian.”
“Without regard to the concerns posed against Channels Television, the reported hasty clampdown, without the advantage of caution, is indicative of bigotry and high-handedness by the regulatory body,” said the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
“Our party is concerned that such attitudes would be counterproductive and exacerbate the already volatile situation in our country at this crucial juncture.
“As a result, the PDP encourages NBC to reconsider the restrictive action imposed on the media house and to implement a system-friendly measure that will ensure best practices in knowledge distribution in our country.”
“As a result, the PDP encourages NBC to reconsider the restrictive action imposed on the media house and to implement a system-friendly measure that will ensure best practices in knowledge distribution in our country.”
