Human right activist and the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili is very angry with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu over plans to sanction stations in 2019.

Lai Mohammed and Obiageli Ezekwesili

Ezekwesili said; “My brother, Kawu, I listened to you with rapt attention, you are not speaking like yourself. You are threatening to shut down broadcasting stations. Similarly, the speech presented by the representative of the minister is also full of threat.”

“This cannot happen in a democracy that we fought hard to attain. Patriotism is to support government when it deserves it and to support the people at all times. Anything that can be a hanging threat against the media must be rejected.”

It would be recalled that the Director General of NBC had earlier threatened and said that; “For us at the NBC, we cannot be responsible for the statements that politicians make. It is important to remind the broadcasting outfits in BON, that you would be liable for any violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code by the politicians that you broadcast live during political rallies.”

“So, it is your responsibility, not just to collect those huge sums politicians are willing to pay; but you must make them remember the liability you carry for decency in what comes out on radio and television.”