Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed displeasure on the threat of sanctions constantly dished out to media houses and to Journalists by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) just as it urges it to desist from it forthwith.
Truth Live News reports that NBC’s Director General, Balarabe Shehu llelah, had warned Arise Television for failing to restrain guests from defaming President Bola Tinubu and other persons and political parties, especially on the station’s “The Morning Show.”
But, the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, yesterday, warned that the regulatory body, should allow television and radio stations to breathe.
Onwubiko told the NBC to take cognisance of the fact that Nigeria constitution is supreme and bigger than any public office holder, and that the NBC cannot be seen attempting to revoke the constitutional freedom enshrined in Chapter 4 of the constitution, including the freedom of information.
He said NBC’s persistent attempt to silence the exercise of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, including attempting to force broadcasting stations to start operating as if Nigeria is under the North Korean type of absolute tyranny by not featuring critics or Nigerians of divergent views different from those in government, must stop.
Also, he accused the NBC of working with reactionary elements to scuttle democracy and institute absolute monarchical type of governance in the 21st century Nigeria.
According to the National Coordinator of HURIWA , the nation’s law books were repleted with media laws on defamation, stressing that President Tinubu could exercise his fundamental human rights as a citizen to institute a suit against any station he thinks has defamed him.