…….Bemoans attitude of northern governors to local Media, patronising southern media at the expense of northern media
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum, ABMPF, says will boycott all official activities of Niger State Government if it continues to undermine the freedom of the press operating in the state
The Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, Ajiyan Yauri made the threat after his meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Badeggi FM Minna.
He Said he had spoken with Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi, the Chief Executive Officer of the station on the issue, said he confirmed that the station is fully operational in spite of the Governor’s illegal orders.
He, however, deployed the use of state machinery to further harass the station and stop it from carrying out its constitutionally guaranteed duties.
Alhaji Yelwa expressed appreciation for the steadfastness and professionalism of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, in declining the illegal orders of the Niger State Governor , for the closure of Badeggi FM, Minna.
The chairman equally praises the courage of the Minister of information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, for reminding the Niger State Government that it has no authority whatsoever to regulate an NBC
licensed radio or television station.
The Association therefore call on the Niger State Governor to call his foot soldiers to order, failing which we may be
forced to direct members of our Forum in Niger State to boycott all future activities of the Government.
He equally advise that in this period of insecurity and multi-dimensional poverty in Nigeria, those in authority should learn to be more tolerant and accommodating of alternative views and to remember that they are In authority not for themselves but for the people they govern.
According to him, the media is not the enemy, but only the mirror for the society to see itself.
The attitude of our leaders where the Lagos-Ibadan axis of the Nigerian press is given preeminence over local media should stop hence with.
Billions of Naira are spent annually by Northern governors patronizing Southwest media while indigenous local Northern media are left to die. Those that persevered, like Badeggi FM are daily being threatened with closure.
Our Forum calls on all member stations facing harassment and intimidation from any authority to furnish our Secretariat with details for a collective action to stop the unhealthy practice.
