Nigerians react to FG’s hammer on Channels TV for IPOB interview

 

Nigerians have reacted to the fine of N5 million slammed on frontline TV station, Channels TV by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

MuchTalksBlog had reported that the NBC hammer came down on Channels TV over an interview it aired on its platform.

The interview in question was with Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 1st News reports that Channels TV was fined over a breach of the Broadcasting Code.

In a letter signed by its Acting Director-General, Armstrong Idachaba; the NBC complained about the Channels TV 7pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, April 25, 2021. The NBC DG told the Managing Director of Channels TV that the TV station erred by allowing a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to make secessionist and also inciting declarations without caution.

The regulator accused the news channel of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false; as well as misleading statements about the Nigerian Army, despite being proscribed by a court of law.

Emma Powerful had fielded a series of questions from his interviewer in which he addressed the recent killing of a commander of IPOB by security forces in Imo State. Emma Powerful had declared that the commander, known as Ikonson Commander, was set up.

Further, he had declared that the Nigerian Army lacked the capacity to invade the camps of IPOB; stating instead that the commander was ambushed after being lured out by some prominent politicians. In addition, Emma Powerful claimed that the deceased commander had rejected the offer of Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma to head the newly formed South East regional security outfit, Ebube Agu.

Meanwhile, the action of the Federal Government has drawn intense reactions from Nigerians. Consequently, a number of users have taken to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to react. Indeed, a school of thought had declared the fine on Channels TV as a case of hypocrisy and double standard; even as it accused the FG of not taking action when Channels TV aired some incendiary comments made by the Miyetti Allah.

Others also cited instances when the government failed to take action over statements capable of inciting unrest.

Equally important, MuchTalksBlog has put together a few reactions below; including that of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.

It is wrong for NBC to sanction @channelstv simply because they allowed the spokesman of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, to answer some pertinent and vital questions about the attack on the home of the Governor of Imo state. Censorship of the media is unacceptable in a democracy.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) April 26, 2021

Just want to point out that @channelstv was the ONLY mainstream broadcaster in Nigeria that was brave enough to play those recordings of @DrIsaPantami live on air - and to a prime time audience of circa 2.5 million viewers on Wednesday

The IPOB thing is just an excuse by the NBC

— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) April 26, 2021

Miyetti Allah went to Channels TV to threaten the whole country on RUGA, the govt said nothing.

Sheikh Gumi went to Channels TV to defend bandits, the govt said nothing.

But IPOB leader goes on Channels TV, and now the station is fined and suspended.

Are we really One Nigeria?

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺🇳🇬🇬🇧💎 (@DrOlufunmilayo) April 26, 2021

Miyetti Allah made provocative statements, including that ‘Nigeria belongs to Fulani’, made by its chairman, Bello Bodejo on June 8, 2020, yet @MBuhari did not suspend stations that interviewed him. But he suspends @channelstv for interviewing an IPOB spokesman?#BuhariTormentor

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 26, 2021

NBC suspension of Channels TV for interviewing IPOB Leader is illegal and unjustifiable. Our court in the case of NOSDRA v. EXXONMOBIL held that regulatory agencies are not empowered to arbitrarily impose sanction without recourse to the court. The attack on free press must stop.

— FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) April 26, 2021

Why are people dragging Channels TV for giving IPOB spokesperson audience? Do you remember when Miyetti Allah threatened the entire country on national TVs on 30th of July 2019 because of RUGA. Did you complain?

— Eze Gburu Gburu 1™© (@Prof_aboki) April 26, 2021