The Federal Government agencies have been on the heads of Channels TV Sunrise Daily Presenters, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu over the interviews Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State granted the station, claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government is promoting a Fulanisation and Islamisation of Nigeria.
The Federal Government is not also happy with certain revelations by Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (rtd), which he made on Buhari on the same television station, claiming that highly placed officials in the Buhari’s government “are sponsors of Boko Haram insurgents”.
Sequel to this development, it was gathered that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has queried the television station accusing it of allowing these two top Nigerians to use their medium to incite people against the government and pass unfair comments on the government.
Though, it was gathered that the presenters have reported themselves at NBC headquarters, Abuja, it was further gathered that operatives of Department of State Security Service (DSS), have arrested them.
In a letter to Channels TV titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’, the NBC, said, “The programme which had as guest the Executive Governor of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom, was observed to contain inciting, divisive and unfair comments which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors”. The letter was dated August 24, 2021, and signed by its Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah.
According to the regulatory body, the action of the station allegedly negated Sections 1.10.4, 3.1.1, 3.3.1(b), 3.3.1(e), 3.11.1(a), and 3.12.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code adding, “Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response should reach the Commission within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter”.
Ortom, in the interview stated, “Mr President is pushing me to think that what they say about him, that he has a hidden agenda in this country is true because it is very clear that he wants to fulanise but he is not the first Fulani president. Shagari was a Fulani President, Yar’ Adua was a Fulani President and they were the best in the history. But President Buhari is the worst President when it comes to issues of security and keeping his promises”.
“Go back to 2015, what did he say, human rights issues, he talked about press freedom, about the economy, corruption, security, tell me one that Mr President has achieved. He has achieved some level of development in other sectors but these prominent things that are concerns to Nigerians and we are all worried about. Tell me when Mr President has come out to address them. Is it corruption, we are worse in the history of this country”, he added.
Ortom also condemned the President for approving recommendations of a committee to review 368 grazing sites, across 25 states in Nigeria to determine the levels of encroachment, pointing out, “If Mr President respects the law, the Land Use Act gives governors the power to preside over land administration on behalf of the people that they govern. So, it is amazing and I am surprised to hear this coming from Mr President as if he doesn’t have an Attorney General, or Lawyers around him to advise him. I think Mr President was misquoted or he did it out of error. He should come out to apologise to Nigerians”.
However, Nigerians have started reacting over the summoning of the tv presenters and eventual arrest by DSS.
Senator Shehu Sani, formerly representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has condemned the arrest of the two journalists saying that the arrest is unconstitutional and uncalled for.
He said, “A journalist can only ask questions, he or she can’t be held responsible for the answers or the truths or facts contained in the interviews. The arrest of the Channels TV presenters, Chamberlain Usor and Kayode Okikiolu is unconscionable by muzzling the press”.
Some Nigerians described the arrest as brutish saying that rather than arresting the presenters, the government should have sanctioned the medium if its case is genuine.
