A former presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Oby Ezekwesili has reacted to the suspension of the licence of the African Independent Television, AIT and RayPower Fm by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
NBC had on Thursday suspended the license of AIT and RayPower Fm until further notice.
The Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, disclosed that the action was taken for failure of the broadcasting stations to abide by the broadcasting code.
The offences listed by the NBC included the airing of a presidential election documentary by the AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal, the inability of the company to pay its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the Social Media” among others.
But, reacting to the development, Ezekwesili said there was nothing in NBC letter that warranted the withdrawal of AIT’s licence.
She added that AIT was only shut down because it is perceived to be an “Opposition media.”
She tweeted, ”NBC to AIT that reaches the threshold for withdrawal of license and shut down of a Media house that we all know Government perceives as an “Opposition media.
” My Summary of this lengthy Sanctions letter from NBC to AIT is simply this.
“We have warned you several times in the past to stop broadcasting things that upset the Government and NBC. You refused to listen. Now we shall shut you up and down until you are ready to be like NTA”
”There is nothing in that letter from NBC to AIT that reaches the threshold for withdrawal of license and shut down of a Media house that we all know Government perceives as an “Opposition media”.
”Wisdom should have actually instructed the FG against striking out at them.”
