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By Lexzy Ochibejivwie
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is in the news again. This time, it has taken a harsh bite at a radio station, for airing what it considered to be a breach of Nigeria’s broadcasting ‘code.’ Some have considered this bite as fitting. Others see it as unnecessary. However you will, the bite translates to an abuse of regulatory powers. True, the NBC surely has statutory powers to regulate media production and consumption in Nigeria. These powers however do not certainly extend to media stifling, much less attempting to muzzle the opinion expressed by a prominent Nigerian. Without a doubt, as a media regulatory commission, it has powers to come down heavily on any media outfit that breaches our country’s relevant media ‘codes.’ Nonetheless, broadcasting houses should enjoy their privileges and, indeed, their liberties to air diverse views and shape popular opinions at all times. I should think that those at the NBC are no bogeymen. I believe they are men and women who know the consequences of extreme media regulations in a country like ours and at such a time as this. I also do know that the Commission is interested in gauging the pulse of the country, especially in regard to issues that have to do with national security. I certainly well know that it is interested in enabling the balance of temper that is capable of driving national reconciliation and cohesion in an intricately fragile country like Nigeria.
But in recent times, the NBC – obviously controlled by Nigeria’s Information Ministry, currently headed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed himself – has made some disturbing remarks and taken some actions that appear to threaten the very freedom of information that it purports to promote. He has put so much effort, so that bills regulating social media activities and hate speeches can speedily be passed into law – an effort many consider as self-serving and suspicious. But it is interesting that he has not even made as much effort in ensuring that Nigerians enjoy ‘Pay-as-You-Go service’ with DSTV. It is interesting that the Minister has not said a word on the fact that Nigerians cannot view all local TV stations on DSTV, except of course they subscribe to the channels. Yet it cannot be denied that “hate speech” has become Alhaji Muhammed’s catch phrase. Many discerning Nigerians also know that the Kwara-born politician would say nothing about some incendiary remarks made by some powerful state officials. The Minister has instead threatened to shut down the ongoing BB Naija Reality TV show – a show that attracts huge following, stimulate thrill among entertainment enthusiasts, generate pecuniary gains and, certainly, launch budding talents into stardom. Yet the maverick Minister believes that the Nigerian entertainment industry is money-spinning. This year he has threatened to cancel the ongoing show and scrap subsequent episodes from airing. If he does not succeed this year, I really doubt if he won’t next year. These actions and others like them put a gag on free speech, discourage innovation and certainly belie the whole idea of individual freedom that has come to define a modern democracy.
Recently, the NBC slammed a heavy penalty of 5million naira on a radio station. Which radio station? Nigeria Info 99.3FM Abuja. For what offense? Airing a content it considered as containing hate speech, and capable of stoking the flames of social tension in the country. How did the Lai Mohammed-controlled NBC arrive at this conclusion? They analyzed the candid view of Dr Obadiah Mailafah – a one-time Deputy Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, and former Presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). As I know, Dr Mailafah is one of the finest public commentators around. Like other public commentators of his ilk – Drs Matthew Hassan Kukah, Femi Aribisala, Otive Igbuzo, and Mr Mike Igini – his judgments to me are usually sound and indicate nothing of someone who intends to put Nigeria on the path of civil unrest. Anytime the Randa-born Economist opens his mouth, every word that proceeds from it is worth considering. Dr Mailafah is certainly that ideal man that Christ himself talked about in the good book – a man who lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from his mouth. On Monday, August 10, 2020, he made some compelling claims that authorities should look into, rather than wield the hammer on the platform on which he spoke. As I hinted earlier, it was on Nigeria Info 99.3FM Abuja. To who? Nigerians especially and people of the world generally. The direct medium? It was on a radio programme of tremendous buzz, “Morning Crossfire.” Where? It was at the right place – right there at Nigeria’s political capital, Abuja. The anchor was of course the inimitable Amele Adeyemi Olubunmi (regarded fondly as Femi D). In the programme mentioned, the interviewee demonstrated tact and wit befitting of an elder statesman. He was dispassionate and never went into the rather divisive attribute of name-calling. The tone with which he reacted to questions was obviously innocuous, to be sure. Most importantly, he drew attention to two issues of urgent national importance. The first was that ‘rehabilitated’ Boko Haram bandits know so much about the nature of hierarchy in the sect. Some informal discussions he entered into with them revealed this much. The second and most disturbing revelation that Dr Mailafah made was that the present leader of Boko Haram is a sitting governor in one of Nigeria’s northern states. His bravery is admirable. The second view has attracted several reactions. Officials of the Department of State Services invited, quizzed and then released him. The civil population has also prevailed on him to identify the name of the governor who uses his position as a bully pulpit to co-ordinate activities of Boko Haram. Most interesting, the radio station which Dr Mailafah granted interview has been penalized by the NBC for breaching extant broadcasting regulations.
I am not sure if the NBC was right to have hastily penalized 99.3FM. The media ought to be a convenient space for admitting balance of opinions. I earnestly do not think that the radio station had any sinister motive to have featured Dr Mailafia as a guest on its programme. To me, on that day, the station’s motive was more to inform Nigerians, than to set them on a collision course. More serious and divisive views have been expressed in the past and even in recent times. The sky did not fall and the NBC kept silent. Since the interview was aired live, spontaneity was involved. I do not think that the station anticipated or intended any harm or offence in the personal comments of its guest on that day. But we do know that Dr. Mailafia’s views can be of immense use in addressing serious security breach in the country. At a time when the war in the north east seems difficult to understand, his views are a renewed call to ordinary Nigerians especially to be more security alert. It is little necessary to use the hammer in this case. What the NBC now spends so much time censoring can now be accessed through various media platforms. This is no Age of Information atrophy. It is certainly not a time to suppress opinions. The diverse broadcast codes the NBC so cherish have been completely by-passed by the avalanche of information that now exists in the media space. What Mailafia said on the station that day can be recorded with his phone and shared to many Nigerians. He could have masked his face or even scrambled his voice. But as a responsible citizen, the International polymath of note chose a more decent platform. The authorities may quiz Dr. Mailafia for all we know. But serious revelation is now in the public domain. Penalize or even continue to subtly stifle the media for all we care, Nigerians now know better. They have definitely added new and serious information to their diary on the political dimension of the asymmetrical war ongoing in Nigeria’s north east.