The suspension of broadcasting license of Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower, did not come to many Nigerians as a surprise because of the antecedents of President Muhammadu Buhari, during his reign as a military dictator in 1984.
AIT had on Wednesday 5th June 2019 aired a documentary titled: “Battle of the Soul of the Nation-PDP/Atiku Presidential Election Petition”.
The documentary showed evidence the PDP/Atiku Campaign Organization had presented to the Presidential Election Tribunal.
This seems not go down well with the APC-led administration and the licenses of the owners of AIT, Daar Communications, was revoked.
It would be recalled that as the General Elections drew closer, the federal government signed a law that treats and punishes criticism as ‘Hate Speech’. The law categorises ‘Hate Speech’ as an act of terrorism. Activists on social media are ont spared because the scope of the proclamation covers posts on social media platforms.
Former Minister of Information, Lai Mohamed, warned journalists and the entire media practitioners the government stands on hate speech has not changed.
Many stakeholders had compared the hate speech law to the unpopular Decree 4 of 1984 when the Head of State, Muhamadu Buhari, attempted to stifle criticism. Journalists were harassed and critics were arrested. Buhari made no pretense of its intention to censor the media.
He decreed Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation Decree No.4 in 1984. The decree came barely 11 days after two Guardian journalists, Messrs Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson, were arrested and detained without explanation over a report on ambassadorial appointments published by the The Guardian on April 8, 1984.
The bottom line is that DEMOCRACY comes with certain responsibilities like FREEDOM OF SPEECH, EXPRESSION, RELIGION and FREE PRESS.
Without these, Buhari may never have returned as a democratic President.
In 2015, Nigerians expressed their RIGHTS and FREEDOM to choose Buhari over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and one can only say that such trend should. The media should be allowed to practice without fear of PERSECUTION.
I HEREBY join the Nigeria Guild of Editors and other media practitioners and human rights activists to call for the reinstatement of broadcasting license of Daar Communications Plc.
