The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has come under hammer for issuing what it termed a ‘final warning’ to Arise Television over alleged derogatory remarks by its guests against President Bola Tinubu.
A letter to the Chief Executive officer, CEO, Arise Global Media Limited, dated Friday, October 6, 2023, titled, “Preponderance Of Derogatory And Incendiary Rremarks: Final Warning”, the broadcast regulator in Nigeria noted that the television station allowed its guests to disparage the president.
The letter read: “This letter once again seeks to underscore the tremendous responsibility put on the broadcaster to manage the array of guests that may feature on the station from time to time.
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“For the benefit of doubt, on October 5, 2023 during the programme “The Morning Show” anchored by Reuben Abali, Rufai Useni and Ayo Mairo Ese featured Oladotun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as Guests. The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the legislature, Executive, Judiciary and Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Dele Farotimi while responding to Dr. Reuben Abali’s question, remarked that the person who holds the highest office in the land is a career criminal.
“On October 6, 2023 during the programme ‘Newsday’ featured.
Kenneth Okonkwo (Spokesperson for Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks against President Tinubu thus: ‘First of all, I must have to say that it is a very sad day for Nigerians and a sad thing that the person that is sitting as their President is a certificate forger that has made the University abroad to refer to forging as a Nigerian thing.’
“Your attention is drawn to the following Sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for Compliance please: 1.10.3: The Broadcaster shall ensure that its Presenter does not express his or her opinion in the programme, as a matter of professional standard.”
Meanwhile, Amnesty International, the global human rights group, has cautioned the Federal Government against using regulations to silence press independence.
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Writing on its to X, formerly Twitter, the International Rights group accused the government of targeting the media because of its aversion to be held accountable.
“Amnesty International condemns the ‘final warning’ issued to @ARISEtv by the FG through National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Targeting Arise TV simply for doing their work sends the wrong message that Nigerian authorities are not prepared to be held accountable,” the global rights group wrote.
“Nigerian authorities must stop the unrelenting quest to silence media organizations like @ARISEtv, which are crucial to ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country and fulfilling people’s right to information.”
However, Okonkwo in a statement kicked against the warning to Arise Television, saying it was baseless and tended to erode his right to freeldom of expression and accused NBC of intimidation.