THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AIT, UNDEMOCRATIC
No doubt, life is all about learning from
yesterday, living for today, and hoping for tomorrow. But as we learn from our
yesterday, we ought not to allow the fear of the past affect the outlook of our
future; in other words, we are expected to live for what tomorrow has to bring,
not what yesterday has taken away.
It is apparent that the long awaited 2015 general elections have
successfully come and gone, but the fact remains that the injuries sustained by
many during the said polls might linger for many months, if not years, before
they get completely healed. Same phenomenon is observed in a situation whereby
the scar of a certain wound sustained remained indelible on the victim’s skin after
several years the wound got healed.
Though, retired General Mohammadu Buhari emerged victorious at the just
concluded Presidential polls, which automatically places him as the incoming
democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but some
of the shocks he acquired prior to or during the aforementioned era can never
be forgotten in a hurry. One of the primary causes of the said shocks is not
unconnected to the campaign of calumny that was embarked upon by the various political
parties, including his, during the electioneering phase.
Presently, the news making the rounds is that one of the foremost visual
broadcasting outfits in the country, the African Independent Television (AIT)
was barred by the President-Elect under the auspices of his political party –
the All Progressives Congress (APC) from covering any of his future activities
henceforth regardless of the nature of the activity. One may ask what could
warrant the pronouncement of such undemocratic utterance.
It would be recalled that during the electioneering period, there was a
certain documentary concerning Mohammadu Buhari that was televised on the media
station in question, which obviously dented the image of the retired General
alongside that of his family. As soon as the piece went on air for the first
time, the national leadership of the APC cried foul, stating that such act was
not just irrational and barbaric but totally dastardly and unacceptable. In the
same vein, there was also a similar piece concerning another chieftain of the
party who happens to be the past governor of Lagos State – Sen Bola Ahmed
Tinubu that was equally televised by AIT, in which the former hurriedly took
the matter to court in protest of the inhumane act.
In reaction to the restriction imposed on the electronic media outfit by
the incoming President, the founder cum Chairman of the DAAR Communications Plc,
which is the umbrella body of the AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has stated that
the action or directive was purely unconstitutional, hence cannot be abide by
or adhered to, by any licensed broadcasting company in Nigeria, talk more of
AIT which is an international organization. Chief Dokpesi went further to state
that the pronouncement was baseless and lacks any jurisdiction, citing some
sections of the Nigerian constitution to that effect.
My stance in this scenario, as a concerned citizen, is nothing but for
the fact that that utterance publicly made by the incoming President via his
political party – the APC, was undemocratic. It is true and apparent that the
President-Elect was severely hurt and humiliated by the media firm in question,
but the recent step taken by the aggrieved party is unequivocally unwholesome
to the Nigeria’s democracy, which many are saying has finally come to stay in
the country.
Without mincing words, such act has the tendency of biasing the mindset
of millions of Nigerians who are already in an euphoric mood owing to the
recent victory recorded with the opinion that the ‘awaited Messiah’ is about to
take over the mantle of leadership or the helm of affairs of the ‘Giant of
Africa’. Considering this singular fact, the people involved were supposed to
have a thorough thought over their intended action and its likely consequence
before unfolding it as they have rightly done.
I’m of the view that a
diplomatic measure would have been taken rather than this, which might tell on
the democratic system of our great nation, Nigeria. Suffice it to say; dialogue
would have been the most appropriate measure to be taken instead of a harsh
treatment. But it is not yet late for the suggested approach to be utilized;
hence there is still room to reverse the proclamation for the interest of the
Nigerian citizenry at large.
Someone may be fighting a just cause, but the manner he uses to approach
the issue might worsen it or even make him be misunderstood by the affected
individuals. Surely, Gen Buhari’s action in alliance with his political party
is justifiable but there are so many peaceful and amicable ways they could use
to actualize their motive instead of putting up a statement that might sound
not unlike an ear-sore before the general public. Thus I appeal for a redress.
In view of the above suggestion, I enjoin our amiable incoming President
to candidly bury his anger as well as overlook the injury he sustained while in
the battle field for posterity sake and for the interest of our children yet
unborn. He shouldn’t allow the fear of his past to affect the outlook of the
country’s future, rather he is expected to learn a lesson from the said past.
Frankly speaking, every country needs the media for the sustenance of her
democracy; though broadcasting involving calumny must not be condoled by any
citizen who has the interest of this country at heart. Think about it!
COMR FRED
NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
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