Presidential candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 elections, Kingsley Moghalu has blamed northern elites and politicians of encouraging poverty among the masses.
Moghalu made this statement on Sunday while speaking at the Ra’ayi Initiative for Human Development (RIHD) annual lecture, in Kano.
He spoke on “Northern Nigeria’s prosperity in the 21st Century: The imperative of social and economic transformation.”
According to him, the selfishness of the northern political class remains the major cause of poverty and under-development in the region.
He wondered why the North could hold power at the centre for 42 years and still remain “the headquarters of poverty in Nigeria.”
He said solutions for repositioning the North are based on re-setting of the people’s mindset and worldview, insisting that, “the problem with the North is the North versus itself.
Moghalu urged northerners to make human development their priorities, adding that there was a nagging need to fight youth unemployment, drug abuse and upgrade the status of women in the region.
He advised that the almajiri system of education should be supported with Western education, pointing out there need to increase the enrollment of women in schools, “because if you educate a woman, you have educated a village.
“The north must be modern. Nigeria and the northern Nigeria will not make progress until Nigeria is constitutionally re-structured.”
He noted that Nigeria cannot develop on “feeding bottle federalism,” noting what Nigeria needs at this point in time remains true federalism that will encourage fiscal independence of the regions.
He called on northern elite to put heads together in revitalizing Kano’s industrial prowess, as well as making huge investment in mechanized and value-chain agriculture.
Moghalu further charged traditional rulers and religious leaders in the north to play major roles in re-setting the worldview of northerners to tally with development agenda of the 21st century.
Aftertwo weeks of perceived delay, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal will resume sitting today, on the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the February 23 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Already, hearing notices have been issued to all parties to the petition.
The delay in the hearing of the petitions was consequent upon the decision of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to withdraw from hearing the petitions.
Her decision to pull out from the five-man panel was based on the allegation of bias levelled against her by the PDP and Atiku.
Although the tribunal had, in a unanimous ruling dismissed the application, Bulkachuwa said she decided to stand down from the tribunal for “personal reasons.”
Indications emerged at the weekend that Bulkachuwa has appointed another judge as her replacement.
Following the delay caused by the development, Atiku and his party wrote to Bulkachuwa, reminding her of her promise to appoint her replacement on the panel to enable the hearing of their petition to resume.
In the May 31 letter, the petitioners said they were already running against time due to the “strict requirement of keeping to the constitutional calendar for a petition”.
The petitioner’s letter, signed on behalf of Uzoukwu by a lawyer, in their legal team, Silas Onu, stated that as of May 31, when the letter was delivered at Bulkachuwa’s chambers, it was nine days since she recused herself from the tribunal yet, nothing had been heard about her replacement.
The letter read in part: “Considering the strict requirement of keeping to the constitutional calendar for a petition and the obvious fact that time is also running fast against the petitioners, we pray my Lord to act by appointing a replacement so that we will get a hearing notice and continue with the petition in the interest of justice.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on February 27, declared President Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressive Congress, winner of the presidential election.
The electoral body declared that Buhari garnered 15,191,847 votes, to defeat Atiku, who it said polled 11,262,978 votes in the disputed presidential election.
Dissatisfied with the result, Atiku vowed to upturn it in court.
In their joint petition, Atiku and the PDP insisted that data they secured from INEC’s server revealed that they clearly defeated Buhari with over 1.6million votes.
The petitioners alleged that INEC had, at various stages of the presidential election, unlawfully allocated votes to Buhari, saying they would adduce oral and documentary evidence to show that result of the election, as announced by the electoral body, did not represent the lawful valid votes cast in the presidential election.
It is time for political revolution.
We are threatened not because we cannot defend ourselves, but becaused we have failed leaders & Government.
For this purpose, PRM is launched to changed the leadership structure of our homeland through political process.
A Coalition of Political and Civil Activists has announced a political movement to end the era of selfish and vision-less political Leaders in Nigeria and return the Nation’s democratic experiment to the People.The Movement is poised to mobilize one million voters via online and offline platforms, in each State of the Federation starting from South Eastern part of Nigeria.In a statement released to the Press and signed by the group PRO-Comrade Emma Onwuegbune,the statement reads in full ‘For a long time, the masses and their leaders have been talking about enthronement of good leadership, political reformation, political freedom and economic freedom, and we have achieved little or no gains from our speeches. That era of much talks with little or no gains is over. The resolve to move into a new era in which we will talk less and achieve more has given birth to a mass movement known as Peoples Restoration Movement’
PRM is for the masses and decision of the masses will be supreme because democracy reigns in it. PRM will concentrate its activities on enthronement of good governance,voters education, campaign against vote buying and vote selling, continuous voters registration campaign ,campaign for community policing and returning of political power to the masses.
PRM will derive its power from the masses and return political power to the masses. South-East region has, already, embraced PRM with open arms. Youth, women, elders and veterans in the region have resolved to raise one million voters in each state in the region.
In future elections, these voters will vote for popular candidates of the masses who will implement the Will of the masses when they are elected.
Registration portals have been opened as the masses of Nigeria have started to enroll to be part of the political struggle to return power to the people.
PRM will build a new political order that defines democracy as the Government of the people by the people and for the People. It will run both online and offline political programs to sensitize the masses of Nigeria on their civic rights and obligations.
PRM will live by its name. It will promote and campaign for the returning of political power to the indigenous people of Nigeria and return Nigeria to regional government in which every region will have political, economic and sociocultural freedom,a confederal system of government.
Join the Peoples Movement by sending your name,location via SMS to 08080713532, 09018187365, 09071376998, 08062628693′ The statement concluded.
A pan-Igbo group, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), has raised an alarm that there are subterranean plans by some powerful interests to conquer, occupy and enslave the Igbo people in Nigeria.
The socio-cultural-political group at an emergency meeting of a “consultative caucus of concerned pan-Igbo” organizations on Friday said it met to deliberate on issues of “grave and urgent importance that threaten the peace, development and security situation in Alaigbo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
In a communiqué made available to the Press, the ADF said: “There is obvious agenda of a bloody Islamisation and jihad to conquer, occupy, take over and enslave Alaigbo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had warned of a possible “Fulanisation” of the country but the Presidency refuted the claim.
The ADF, whose focus is rebuilding and development of the Igbo nation and the rebirth, advancing the spirit of its culture and civilization urged Igbo people not to be caught unawares.
“Ndigbo should do everything in their power to defend themselves, their wives, children and their ancestral land,” said the statement, which was signed by Prof Uzodinma Nwala, ADF President, Prof. Nath Aniekwu, ADF Secretary, and eight other leaders of various Ndigbo groups.
It added that it would set up a joint-committee of pan-organizations and prepare a memorandum in order to alert the Igbo in Nigeria and all over the world on peace, development, and security of “Alaigbo”.
The ADF said it was also working on getting all stakeholders in the South-east, including the government and traditional institutions to pursue a common agenda in the interest of the survival of the Igbo.
As part of its approaches to deal with the alleged existential threat, the group stated further that it would make efforts worldwide so that all Igbo people liaise with “the patriotic pan-Igbo organizations” to ensure that needed resources in “Alaigbo support all the patriotic forces” engaged in the struggle for Igbo emancipation and security.
The Igbo group did not, however, ignore working with other nations, urging its people to “seek possible working relationship with other nationalities to ensure the collective defence of their territories from the jihadists”.
Anambra Is Decaying & Our Dear Governor Is Happy With This.
Willie Is Willingly Giving Our Children Best Education Here.
Right behind primary school class room block, this thing is left for our children to inhale and get sick.
Anambra State is turning into a big mess and nobody seems to care.
If this video does not concern you, you are not fit to be a human.
Please share this video.
The court says INEC’s decision to deny Mr Okorocha certificate of return as senator-elect is “lawless and and a complete nullity.”
An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has nullified the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refuse to present former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, with a certificate of return as senator-elect.
The Court ruled that the decision to deprive Mr Okorocha of the certificate falls outside the provisions of the law and was therefore a “lawless decision.”
According to the court presided over by Justice Okon Abang, only the returning officer of the INEC had the constitutional authority to declare a winner.
Mr Abang said any person declared a winner by the returning officer remains a winner until petitioners succeed in upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.
The court further ruled that Mr Okorocha had no business being the originator of the petition at the election tribunal.
Mr Abang, who ruled that the federal high court had exclusive jurisdiction to decide on the matter, described INEC’s decision as “lawless and a complete nullity.”
The electoral body had said it refused to give Mr Okorocha certificate of return after the returning officer for Imo West senatorial district said he was compelled to declare Mr Okorocha winner.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered status quo on the withdrawal of operating licence of the Daar Communications PLC over alleged breach of broadcasting code.
Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday ordered the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Attorney General of the Federation to appear on Thursday, June 13 to show cause why the motion on notice challenging the action of the regulatory agency should not be granted.
In an ex parte application brought by its lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), DAAR PLC operators of African Independent Television (AIT), Raypower FM, Faaji FM and Daarsat had on Thursday asked the court to order status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the main suit.
The NBC had in a letter dated May 27, 2019 accused Daar of breaching the Nigeria’s Broadcasting Code with its Kakaaki and other programmes and subsequently withdrew its licence.
In the suit against the NBC, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Attorney General of the Federation, Daar claimed that it had since the licence of its television and radio stations been conducting its operations in line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution. It therefore asks the court to make an order “restraining the defendants from blocking, jamming, stopping removing from air and/or interfering with the air waves of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) in any way and manner howsoever called from invading the premises of the plaintiff/applicant (Daar Plc) or closing down, viet armis, the said premises, its operations or broadcast services, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.”
Enumerating grounds for the action, Daar Plc said the defendants had on April 16 in a Gestapo-style invaded its premises and pulled down two buildings and gates leading to its operational office in Asokoro, Abuja worth millions of naira.
BEING TEXT OF THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIGH CHIEF ENGR. RAYMOND A.A. DOKPESI, PHD, DSC, OFR, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DAAR COMMUNCATIONS PLC, KPADUMA HILLS, ASOKORO – ABUJA ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019.
Good morning fellow Nigerians and gentlemen of the press, before I proceed to the business of the day, permit me to felicitate with our Muslim brothers and sisters who have just celebrated the occasion of the completion of the Ramadan fast. Barka da Sallah!
1. Let me begin by expressing my profound gratitude to you all for honouring this invitation at very short notice. I greet you and welcome you to the premises of DAAR Communications Plc Head Quarters today as witnesses to the high handedness of government in deploying all instruments of power to threaten, intimidate and harass our media organisation for my affiliation with the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the government’s perceived bias by our stations in holding government, public officers and people in positions of power accountable to the people of Nigeria.
2. As you drove up to our premises, you will have observed the destruction of our security house and perimeter fencing across the boundaries of DAAR Communications Plc (HQ) executed by the FCDA approximately 6-weeks ago. We have since gone to court and it will be subjudice to make further statements on the issues before the courts. Suffice to say, that our premises have been left exposed to all manner of threats which endanger the lives of our staff and property. We have persevered in the discharge of our duties and obligations despite the physical and psychological intimidation the actions of the FCDA, a department under the control of this government, has impacted on us.
3. Since coming to office in 2015 and in compliance with a well scripted program of action to shutdown the DAAR Communications brand from Nigeria’s broadcasting landscape, we have been inundated with letters from our regulator – the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Every broadcast which appears to them to offer a dissenting perspective to the position of Government is reprehended as a threat to National interest. Every reference and reportage from various sections of the country concerning injustice, inequality and iniquity is reprehended as a threat to National security.
4. We hold the position that it is the actions or lack of actions by the Government in responding to the above that threaten public order, public interest, public cohesion, the peace and unity of this country and NOT the reportage of same.
5. It is our view that communications, including broadcasting as a form of mass communication serves public interest when the media is able to inform and educate the public on the activities and initiatives of Government whilst also availing people in Government an opportunity to feel the pulse of the nation by reporting unadulterated comments, opinions and perspectives without censorship. By so doing, leaders including the President, can access and discern the value of diverse opinions and positions.
6. I make bold to say, as Founder and chairman emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc that our objective from inception to this day remain:
(i)To inform, educate and entertain,
(ii)To serve the interest of the general public
(iii)To set the agenda for the social, cultural, economic, political and technological development of our nation and
(iv)To hold the government and the people in power accountable to the people in pursuance of public interest over government or personal interests.
7. These goals and objectives are derived from the character and objectives of broadcasting as defined in the NBC code. However, it is important to note that there are areas of conflict between certain provisions of the NBC code, the responsibility of our professional obligations, the law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is our view that where such conflicts exist, we must prioritise public interest in abiding by the Constitution and laws of the Federal Republic over and above provisions of the NBC code.
8. In summary therefore, we have served Nigeria’s public interest, convenience and necessity as outlined above.
9. TRUTH, BALANCE, OBJECTIVITY AND PLURALITY OF THE MEDIA
For the benefit of our audiences, students of journalism and mass communications, our regulators, people in power and government and the general public at large who have notions about responsible journalism and a media organisation’s responsibility to report news with balance and objectivity, let me state without fear or equivocation that the purpose of any responsible news media institution is the singular pursuit of truth. There is absolutely no obligation from any media organisation or any journalist to balance a story, but that is not to say they do not have a responsibility to be objective in their methodology for establishing the truth. For example:
Today, we accept global warming as an environmental phenomenon. Global warming is real. This is the truth. In discussing the issue, is there any basis for balancing a global warming story with a skeptic who does not believe in global warming? Absolutely not! But no media organisation can assume that global warming is truth. They must go through a process. An editorial board will have to review empirical data objectively and dispassionately and come to a resolution that global warming is real and shall be reported as truth in their news bulletins, programmes and editorials.
This is how we arrive at our editorial positions at DAAR Communications Plc.
If we are critical of this administration’s management of the economy, it is because our editorial board have reviewed the economic indices and these show that Nigeria is worse off today than it was under previous administrations.
If we are critical of this administration’s commitment to nationhood and the principles of fairness, equity and justice for the various ethnic nationalities that make up the configuration of Nigeria, it is because the principle of Federal Character has been fragrantly ignored in the appointments of this administration and the remarks of principal officers of this government point to a lopsided bias in favour of regions from which votes were generated rather than showing leadership to all.
If we are critical of this government’s commitment to the tenets of democracy, it is because we have witnessed unabated interferences, harassment and intimidation by the agencies under the executive arm of Government on the institutions of democracy and their principal officers. This include the leadership of the National Assembly, the Judiciary and now the 4th estate of the realm.
We cannot separate these truths from reality. They are empirical and undeniable. We have been professional and objective in our assessment of the empirical evidence that led us to some of these conclusions. These have no bearing and no roots in partisan politics. They are statements of fact. We are a business and a commercial enterprise. We do not refuse anyone access to airtime. If Government feels that our editorial positions are unfair, they have opportunity to represent themselves.
We have never refused this Government a slot to respond or to reply to these positions. We have on the contrary, invited them times without number to appear for free to explain their positions and address the agitations of ordinary Nigerians. But they cannot determine what questions we ask them and what issues are off-limits. They must appear knowing that they are subjecting themselves to public scrutiny. The representatives of this Government have largely not taken up the opportunity to rise to this challenge.
Our obligation as provided for in section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to hold government, public officers and people in power accountable to the public. If AIT appears biased in propagating its editorial position, it is because the representatives of Government have shied away from giving account of themselves on our platform and not because AIT denies the Government opportunity to make their perspectives known to our audiences.
10. ALLEGATIONS OF DAAR POLITICAL BIAS OR DELIBERATE CENSORSHIP OF FREE MEDIA?
For our audiences who were unborn or were too young to track our pedigree in this industry, it is important to emphasise that DAAR Communications Plc has played this important role and stood by the tenets of the profession since we started broadcasting in 1993. We have suffered harassment from successive governments since the days of General Sanni Abacha and the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.
For the benefit of our detractors that attribute our positions to partisan politics, allow me recap some of the notable critical positions we took against successive PDP administrations starting with President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999:
Tenure
Presidency
Party
Issue
1999 – 2007
Olusegun Obasanjo
PDP
3rd Term Agenda
2007 – 2011
Umaru Yar’Adua
PDP
Doctrine of Necessity
2011 – 2015
Goodluck Jonathan
PDP
Fuel Subsidy Removal
Many of our viewers who raised the loudest plaudits for our actions then are now part of and hold senior positions in the ruling party, the APC. They know and understand the power of the media and a free press and understand that the pen is mightier than the sword if their government is compromised or found wanting. DAAR Communications Plc remains one of the few remaining independent media organisations operating without any fear or hinderance. We cannot separate the proclamations from senior members of the Buhari presidency, the demolition of our security infrastructure by the FCDA, the threatening letters and fines from the industry regulator and a number of other actions we have been duly notified of being plotted and in the pipelines, from desperate attempts to gag, muzzle, restrain and impair our operations and reportage.
11.Gentlemen of the press, I have been reliably informed that some security agencies have threatened my person with the “Okadigbo treatment”, whatever that means.
When I, High Chief, Engr. Raymond A.A. Dokpesi, Ph.D., D.Sc, OFR, Founder and now Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, committed myself to partisan politics in 2014, I duly resigned as Executive Chairman and recused myself from day to day operations of DAAR Communications Plc. This was the right thing to do.
12.I however cannot ignore that our regulator, the NBC today is under the leadership of a partisan politician. Ishaq Moddibo Kawu, the Director General of the NBC, was an aspirant of the APC for the governorship of Kwara State before the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria. Is he in a position to regulate freely and fairly? Is he devoid of partisan interest in regulating the industry? The fact that he lost his primaries and returned to resume as DG of the NBC is in itself despicable.
13.In spite of a global broadcast network license granted to DAAR Communications Plc by General Sanni Abacha administration in 1994, the DG of NBC has stalled the Commissioning of our stations in Yola, Awka and Sokoto since 2016 by fragrantly refusing the Commission Engineers to inspect the fully built and equipped broadcast facilities for radio and television. The DG of NBC falsely accuses DAAR Communications Plc of being indebted to the Commission for a license fee to the tune of N500 million.
14.The truth of the matter is that at the commencement of the current broadcast licence renewal period, the Commission unilaterally fixed the network licensing fee for private network broadcasters at N500 million. The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) on behalf of all broadcasters made several representations to the National Broadcasting Commission that the fee is darn too high bearing in mind that the economic fortunes of our country and the collapse of industry in Nigeria.
15.I am very reliably informed that BON made representations to the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Honourable Minister of Information, to review very significantly downwards the level of fees payable to the NBC and the humongous taxes that these private stations are made to pay to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS). I have reiterated in the years past, that the State and Federal Government stations are made to pay much lower license fees and if my memory is not short, it is about N10 million annually and do not pay any taxes. This is in spite of the fact that these stations also have budgetary allocations, grants and subventions. Even at that, NBC sources have severally confirmed that these stations are also heavily indebted. Therefore the 5-year National network license for government owned stations is just 10% of what privately owned national network broadcasters are forced to pay. Yet they all still go to the same market to scramble for the very limited adverts available and offer uneconomical rates which the private sector cannot match since we do not enjoy same subsidies in covering the costs of our operations.
Rather than create a level playing ground for the deregulated industry to flourish in Nigeria, Mr Ishaq Moddibo Kawu, the DG NBC, in an email to a very senior and respectable broadcaster who volunteered to intervene between DAAR Communications Plc and the DG, stated inter alia:
“Good morning Sir. I’m unable to allow the inspection until and unless DAAR Communications effects payment of the over N500 million they owe NBC. I sincerely apologise to you Sir, because it is NOT about you, neither am I trying to disrespect your person. I will NEVER do so! But we have an experience with DAAR Communications and that’s what is guiding my action. Besides, there is no rational basis for me to allow an inveterate debtor as the organisation is to open new stations when it is OBVIOUS they have no plan to pay! In truth, they shouldn’t be on air in Nigeria because they have refused to meet their licensing obligations. It is that simple. Regards Sir.”
16.Ladies and gentlemen, the N500 million license fee here is not a debt from the previous licensing periods, but from 2016 when the new licensing period started. As stated earlier, this figure has been rejected by the industry and the umbrella body for all broadcasters, BON, is still negotiating a reasonable and sustainable fee with the Government. You will recall, in the heat of the campaign period just before the General Elections, at a BON Conference in Port Harcourt, the DG threatened to shut down over 100 radio and television broadcasters for failing to yield to the extortion of license fee payments since the 2016 licensing period became operational. Inspite of the ongoing negotiation, DAAR Communications Plc has continued to make payments on account for Licence fees!!!
In the subsequent discussions and correspondences with those that discussed DAAR Communications Plc matters with him, the DG NBC, finally opened up and confessed his fears that his refusal to grant the DAAR Communications request is because DAAR Communications will use the stations in those aforementioned locations to promote the People’s Democratic Party to the detriment of the APC. I have no doubt in mind therefore the NBC under the leadership under Moddibo Kawu has become very high handed and tyrannical in its regulatory roles of the electronic media in Nigeria. I have it on good authority also that certain other privately licensed broadcasters have also been marked and pencilled down for humiliation, intimidation, endless queries and constant threats of revocations of broadcast licenses by the Moddibo Kawu lead NBC.
17.So when one juxtaposes and considers all the above with the fact that the Director General of the NBC, Ishaq Moddibo Kawu, was dragged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 12-count-charge bordering on fraud in the digital switchover project of the Federal Government and that that members of his management at NBC have testified against him openly in court, it begs the question: can this man remain independent of external and clandestine influences? Can the scandal he is embroiled in be used to influence his performance as a regulator? Is it possible that he will go the extra mile over and beyond the powers of the NBC to gain favour from politicians and powers who may have influence on whether to retain him as DG and offer him a soft landing on the charges before him? Is he a fit and proper person with the interest of the industry at heart to lead the regulatory body?
18.He too must know that the right thing for him to do is to step down from the leadership of the NBC at least until such a time that he is acquitted of the charges against him. Do I need to tell him the right thing to do? Can the broadcasters he is regulating freely raise these issues against him as a public figure? I make bold to unequivocally call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately relieve him of his duty at the NBC to allow the industry to breathe fresh air.
19.Now, the Commission has come out boldly to challenge DAAR Communications’ right to editorial opinion, views and commentary.
In a letter NBC|AIT.05|19 addressed to the General Manager, (AIT & Raypower), and titled: USE OF ONE-SIDED AND UNFAIR ALLEGATIONS OF NEWS COMMENTARY ON JUSTICE BULKACHUWA’S MEMBERSHIP OF PRESIDENTIAL PETITION TRIBUNAL; WARNING.
The NBC claims that a News commentary on the above subject matter replete with unfair allegations against the judiciary was aired from Monday, 20th May 2019 on AIT and Raypower FM.
“The commentary was aired on the two stations severally during the week. The broadcast is a contravention of the provisions of the code and extant laws regarding discussion of cases pending in the law courts, which could be termed as contempt of court. Furthermore, the language used was offensive and unfair on the judiciary.”
The NBC letter goes further to say the broadcast is viewed as offensive, unfair and unprofessional as provisions of section 1.15.1 of the Nigerian Broadcast Code was violated.
Section 1.15.1 “Broadcast objectives are best achieved if all involved in the production and transmission of programs adhere to the following laws”
Section 1.15.1 (F) “The law of contempt relating to matters pending before the law courts.”
The NBC further states that the material is also perceived as one sided in favour of the likely sponsors, a violation of section 0.2.2.1 (b) that states:
“Broadcasting Organizations shall recognize that they exercise freedom of expression as agents of society, not for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs of their own or of their proprietor’s, relatives and friends or supporters.”
It adds that section 5.1.2 also states inter alia “News shall be factual and presented in a correct and fair manner, without distortions, exaggerations or misrepresentations.
The NBC concludes its letter by stating: “Consequently your station is by this letter WARNED and advised to be cautious when discussing issues relating to matters pending in the court of law and refrain from use of language inimical to the broadcast profession.”
20.Gentlemen of the Press, nothing can be more preposterous and bizarre. The NBC does not appear to know the difference between NEWS and Commentary / Opinion / Editorial. Or the NBC under the leadership of the DG is being mischievous in doing a hatchet job of admonishing the free press for exercising their right under the guises of contraventions of the NBC code.
What was aired by AIT and RayPower referred to above by the NBC was simply Editorial commentary in which the President of the court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa was called upon to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as there was the likelihood of bias on her part.
21.The Editorial quoted profusely from national and international laws on the likelihood of bias. Justice Bulkachuwa’s husband is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling party the APC but in actual fact a Senator elect on the platform of the APC. What is more, her son ran for the Governorship ticket of a state under the APC during the last general elections.
22.What the editorial called for is most certainly what any and every responsible media house ought to do in the full exercise of its role not only as the fourth estate of the realm but in the execution of its constitutional role of ensuring that all three arms of government are held accountable to the people.
23.We find the NBC’s allegation of unprofessional conduct on the editorial position of AIT & RayPower reprehensible and totally reject it in its entirety.
An editorial is a commentary that clearly states the position of the media house publishing or airing. It is usually the media houses’ standpoint on any issue. It is strong views expressed without equivocation and any apologies to anybody. Indeed, globally, the media holds its right to editorial positions as one uncompromisable and inalienable right and privilege. It is the basis for the right of the people to know.
The pedigree of the AIT & RayPower as broadcast stations resolute in its defence of the masses will not be canvassed here.
24.I must however, say very quickly here that the allegation of likely sponsors made by the NBC is a statement of guilt given the partisan outlook of the leadership of the NBC and the onus for the DG himself to recuse himself from the leadership of the NBC.
In any case, that the NBC would merely conclude by issuing a warning to AIT & RayPower over what it calls use of one sided and unfair allegations against Justice Bulkachuwa’s, membership of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal speaks volumes.
The NBC conveniently refuses to acknowledge that the honourable Justice and President of the court of Appeal has actually stepped aside and recused herself in deference to calls made by AIT amongst other patriotic and well meaning Nigerians even though she gave personal reasons for her decision.
Let me praise the courage and doggedness of other media organizations, print, electronic and social that made similar calls. It is time to stand up for what is right.
25.Similarly, two other letters were received by this organization from the NBC on May 27th, 2019.
The first was titled, “BROADCAST OF DOCUMENTARY: THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY ON TRIAL: THE KENYAN EXAMPLE.”
While the second letter is titled, “LACK OF EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN USE OF CONTEXT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.”
26.Gentlemen of the Press, we are all professionals, we did not hide the identity of the production of the Documentary. It was an AIT production.
If politicians and other stakeholders are willing, ready and able to hide the gross and brazen abuses that were inherent in the last general elections, the worst elections we have had since 1999, we the media must not be intimidated and hounded to submission. We must speak out to save our democracy. We must stand resolute and fearless in the discharge of our responsibilities as the fourth state of the realm.
The media must remain a fertile ground for the cross fertilisation of ideas, constructive criticisms, give voice to the voiceless and help to the helpless.
27.The documentary we aired on the Nigerian Judiciary on Trial – The Kenyan Example was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. The petition already laid before the tribunal at the time had become a public document.
There were already ongoing robust and very engaging debates on the salient points of the petition before the Tribunal. All AIT simply did was add our voice to the conversation by addressing the minds of Nigerians to the Kenyan Example at their Presidential elections in 2017.
This was because we found similarities in the situations of both but separate events.
In any case, the point really was that the Supreme Court of Kenya cancelled the Presidential elections and ordered a repeat because in its view the server of the electoral body had been compromised.
We are all aware of the heated but sometimes absurd debates that have arisen over INEC servers since our general elections and how it is indeed impacting negatively on the nation’s standing in the comity of Nations.
Again, we at AIT and RayPower plead not guilty to the NBC charges that the broadcast is not only prejudicial but also seen as an intimidation of the judiciary and the attempt to influence the process of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
The NBC must see itself as a national regulatory body that it is and not an organization existing to protect the sole interests of the ruling party in government.
Except this is done and quickly too, the NBC will soon find itself immersed in a cobweb of intricate and and very uncoordinated interpretations of the code of broadcasting and other laws.
There are existing laws in Nigeria that govern contempt and there are legal procedures for the courts to find any person or organization guilty. The NBC can therefore only act in furtherance of a court order towards applying the full sanctions of the law.
That the NBC would arrogate to itself the authority to decide whether a broadcast station has committed a contempt of court charge and threaten fire and brimstone smacks of a total misrepresentation of what our extant rules are and about.
As I have already said we are absolutely not guilty of the charges and allegations raised by the NBC in the documentary.
28.The third and final letter accuses AIT of lack of Editorial Responsibility in the use of content from social media. This allegation is as absurd as it is self-contradictory.
The programme in question – Kakaaki Social – which holds in the mornings on weekdays curates the thoughts and opinions of ordinary Nigerians as expressed on social media regarding a variety of topics. It is important to note that this programme generates none of the content published but only curates and publishes the thoughts and opinions of the Nigerian public on critical issues.
29.On May 27th, 2019 NBC wrote a letter querying the producers of the programme for publishing opinions of Nigerians over the threat by militants in the Niger Delta to declare a Niger Delta Republic on June 1st, 2019. The threat by the militants was widely reported by every media print, tv, radio and online media house in the country.
30.However for some unknown reason, the programme was singled out by NBC and accused of issuing a call to war and being outrightly inciting. This accusation was made in spite of the fact that most of the comments published on the programme condemned the threats of secession and called for national unity. The reference underlined in the NBC letter to the singular comment seemingly supporting secession of the Niger Delta Republic did NOT endorse secession. It merely drew attention to proposals by the Nigerian government to offer N100 Billion to Miyetti Allah to seize kidnapping in the country when the contributions of Miyetti Allah to the Nigerian economy are limited to the meat industry and compared it to failed promises by Government to address environmental concerns and the agitations of Niger Deltans who suffer as a result of the oil economy having the most devastating externalities on the indigenes.
Are we supposed to censor the perspectives of a Niger Deltan who has raised a valid comment concerning the fairness, equity and justice of this Government in contemplating payments of a huge sum of money to Miyetti Allah when the Niger Delta has remained peaceful in spite environmental degradation and failed promises to clean it up?
His rights are protected by section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In response to the NBC’s grievance that we even allowed the issue of secession pass through our editorial gatekeepers, let us ask: is this not news? Is it not in public interest for the oil companies, their workers and staff to take extra precautions over increased restlessness and agitation? Is such reportage unprecedented?
31.You will recall about 2014 Boko Haram proclaimed the territories of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states as seceded under the authority of Islamic State (IS). This was reported by all local and foreign media. Was this reportage a call to war or being outrightly inciting? Absolutely not, it was a reportage of truthful facts. This is no different. Have imprisoned members of Boko Haram who fought against Nigeria to uphold Islamic State on Nigerian soil not been pardoned and set free by this administration? Did they not commit acts of treason? How then does the NBC equate reportage of an agitation with acts of treason. This is preposterous!
32.Gentlemen of the Press, we are on a road previously travelled. A media and press clampdown is in the offing.
All the tell tale signs are there. It is time to rise up to say if the Executive arm of Government can muscle the legislative arm, intimidate and cajole the judiciary, there is nothing it can do about the fourth estate of the realm, its existence or freedom to operate as it is constitutionally provided for.
This is the bitter pill the NBC under its leadership and various influences must swallow.
What will work is synergy.
If indeed, we all exist to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Nigeria and its citizens, we must begin to see ourselves as partners and not as avowed enemies on the basis of our political, religious and other beliefs.
AIT & RayPower by the special grace of God are ideas whose time have come. Except God wills it lesser mortals shall labor in vain to kill it.
Thank you ever so much for honouring this invitation and God bless.
33.I shall now embark on my protest march to the National Assembly and other designated locations to ensure that the entire world is made aware that a major offensive on the Freedom of the Press has started in Nigeria.
34.I call on the media, national and international, the global civil society and human rights groups and the committee for the Protection of Journalists, CPJ to heed our clarion call and come to our aid.
“PRESS BRIEFING ON SUSPENSION OF LICENCE – DAAR COMMUNICATIONS, HELD TODAY 6TH JUNE, 2019 AT THE NBC HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA.”
“Following monitoring reports and complaints from concerned Nigerians about the broadcast contents of Daar Communications Plc’s AIT/Raypower broadcast stations, the NBC have over the last 2 years summoned on several occasions management of the company to address issues regarding the operations of AIT/Raypower with the company, particularly, Political Platform and Kakaaki aired on AIT.
In one of our meetings, held on 2nd June, 2017, the Commission expressed its disappointment with the way and manner Hate Speech, divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.
Again, on 15th August, 2017, it became imperative to invite the company for yet another meeting on almost same issues. Furthermore, while addressing another meeting on 7th February, 2018 we highlighted issues of concern to the Commission which indicated that the company had been breaching the provisions of Sections 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of the broadcast Code. The company’s delegates in their response promised to abate the breaches and comply with the law.
However, on October 18, 2018, the Commission was disturbed with the manner in which social media issues became part of the mainstream media unedited on AIT/Raypower, and was constrained to issue a generic letter to all broadcast stations on the need to exercise caution in the use of user generated content from the social media knowing how volatile and misleading the social media has become. The management of Daar Communication Plc thereafter took to the social media to display our official correspondences.
Recently, the Commission’s monitoring reports on AIT/Raypower indicate the use of divisive comments accredited to the segment of “Kakaaki”, tagged, “Kakaaki Social”, where inciting comments like, “Nigeria is cursed, we declare independent state of Niger Delta”, “Nigeria irritates me”, “this country is gradually Islamizing” and other similar slogans are used without editorial control in breach of the broadcast Code. We were therefore constrained to issue Daar Communication letters of warning dated May 27th, 2019.
We also observed from monitoring reports that a documentary on the Presidential Election Tribunal, a pending election petition matter aired on AIT on Wednesday and Thursday, 22nd and 23rd May, 2019 without regard to the provisions of the Broadcast Code. The Commission, in line with its regulatory powers again cautioned AIT in another letter also dated 27th May, 2019.
However, instead of making amends, the management of Daar Communications Plc resorted to the use of media propaganda against the regulator. Even the letters from the NBC were posted on social media platforms.
Needless to state that Daar Communications have over the years turned themselves into a bad example of how a professional broadcast outfit should not be run.
In their relationship with the NBC, Daar Communications carry on, as if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the Commission. They don’t pay their licence fees as and when due.
Its broadcast is patently partisan and one sided and deliberately inciting and heating the polity. The management of the Company has created the habit of using the channel to fight its personal battles contrary to the statutory requirements of the law.
SHUT DOWN ORDER
Today the 6th of June, 2019, AIT/Rapower embarked on use of inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda against the government and, the NBC for performing its statutory functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
Consequently, after several meetings with management of Daar Communications Plc and many letters of warning. The NBC, today 6th June, 2019 took a decision to suspend the licence of Daar Communications Plc for failure to abide by the Commission’s directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
This decision is based on the provisions of Section 10 of the Third Schedule of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which states as follows:
(d) where in the opinion of the Commission the station has been used in a manner detrimental to national interest.
(g) where there is wilful or repeated failure to operate
substantially as set forth in the licence
(h), where there is wilful or repeated violation or wilful or repeated failure to observe any provision of this Act or any rule or regulation of the Commission authorised by this Act or by a treaty ratified by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(i), where there is violation of or failure to observe any cease and desist order issued by the Commission;
(k), where a provision of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code has been seriously breached; and
