The Pirates Confraternity also known as the Association of Seadogs has tackled the Federal Government for using the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to clampdown on Channels TV.
The TV station’s journalist had hosted an interview with the Governor of Benue State where he condemned the alleged inaction of the government towards the insecurity situation in the country.
Last week, the NBC summoned the the anchors of Channels, Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu to explain their role in the interview with Governor Samuel Ortom and a retired Naval officer, Kunle Olawunmi.
Reports say that even if both journalists were not invited by security operatives, NBC’s invitation for questioning was a way of intimidating them.
In a statment issued by its Capoon, Abiola Owoaje, the Pirates stated that the NBC’S action was a clear action of “professional intimidation, disrespect for democratic ethos and a flagrant abuse of regulatory power.”
“The National Association of Seadogs (Pirates Confraternity) wish to restate our concerns over the commission’s incredible disdain for professional journalistic ethics and political neutrality, a blatantly partisan interpretation of its core mandate and a growing intolerance for freedom of expression by Nigerians, and by extension press freedom.
“It’s predilection to suppress views considered dissenting or critical of the government through harassment; and intimidation of broadcasting stations is unbecoming of the professionalism and patriotism expected of a regulatory agency.”
The Confraternity stated that the NBC has become an appendage of the Buhari administration and has abandoned its core mandate to create an enabling environment for broadcasting to thrive.
The group added that the presidency should have used the insights given by the Ortom interview to reassure the public of its good faith and positive intentions regarding the security concerns of the citizenry.
The confraternity stated that the Buhari administration is only deploying clandestine tactics to escape the necessary scrutiny of a democratic system.
“To be sure, it must be stressed that press freedom is not a matter of choice that is dependent on prescribed behaviour, but a fundamental pillar of a healthy democratic system,” Owoaje added.
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