.AI Berates his action ..NGO knocks governor
By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Following the directive from the Niger State Governor , Mohammed Umaru Bago, that order the closure of Badeggi FM Radio Station for allegedly inciting violence, the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) has advised him to be cautious and not send the wrong signal.
In the same vein Amnesty International ( AI ) strongly condemns the action describing it as ‘lawless and repressive order ‘
Also Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) Minna strongly condemn the purported order .
it states that “the alleged reason for this move is the claim that the radio station incited the public to rebellion against the government is not tenable. We view this harsh and punitive action as an attempt to gag the press from performing its constitutional and professional responsibility.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers journalists under Chapter Two, Section 22, to hold governments accountable. It is disheartening that a democratically elected government would hide behind the pretense of ‘public order’ to deny a broadcast station, such as BADDEGI RADIO, from discharging its duties unhindered.”
We stand in solidarity with Amnesty International, the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) in condemning, in the strongest terms, the order by the Niger State Governor to close BADDEGI RADIO. This order is an aberration of our constitution and recklessly undermines the statutory responsibility of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
We urge Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and the Government of Niger State to come out clean by holding themselves accountable on all allegations mentioned by a guest on BADDEGI RADIO’s flagship Programme, using the channel of RIGHT OF REPLY.
WAMAC calls on Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and officials of Niger State to immediately withdraw the closure order of BADDEGI RADIO and engage journalists and the general public with factual and verifiable statements to debunk the alleged infractions aired on the radio station.
In a press statement made available to Newsspecing Online ‘the state council of NUJ after emergency State working Committee meeting urged the Governor to understand the role of the media in holding public officers accountable’
NUJ Niger State Council, stated that while the Governor is exercising his executive powers especially as it relates to media industry , he should tread with caution and in accordance with democratic tenets in issuing orders.
A Statement issued on behalf of the Union by the State Secretary of NUJ Comrade Usman Chiji, said it is only the National Broadcasting Commission NBC that has legal powers to issue license to radio and television stations and can also revoke same through judicial interpretations when such stations err.
The Union called on the Governor to approach NBC and formally lodge complaint rather than outright directive to close down the station whose licencing is not within his executive power.
The NUJ was of the belief that, the Governor would have made effective use of the NUJ as professional body to table issues relating professional misconducts.
The Statement however cautioned that, in as much as the Union will not support gagging of the media houses by the authorities, it urged practitioners in the State to always abide by the ethics of the profession to uphold public confidence adding that in line with this a committee headed by a Senior Journalist Pastor Dan Amashingha was recently set up to ensure revalidation of membership of the union.
The NUJ reminded the Governor on the need to carry media practitioners and houses along through partnerships instead of ordering for their Closure that is against democratic principles.
The union therefore urged the immediate withdrawal of the order in the interest of democracy, invariably press freedom.
It would be recalled that on Friday August 1, Bago ordered the closure of Badeggi FM Radio Station on the allegation of inciting violence.
The governor gave the directive during the expanded Niger State APC Caucus meeting held at the Government House Minna.
He explained that the decision was taken because the daily activities of the Radio station have been unethical.
Governor Bago also accused the owner of the Station for incitement of the people against government and directed that the license of the Radio station be revoked.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the radio station, and emphasised the need for the security operatives to profile the owner of the radio station as his station promotes violence.
