Posted by By Frank Agbo & Paul Omo Obadan, Lagos on
Despite lifting of the suspension on Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Friday, Nigerians continue to berate the federal government for clamping down on the station.
Despite lifting of the suspension on Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Friday, Nigerians continue to berate the federal government for clamping down on the station.
Speaking to Sunday Sun, constitutional lawyer and social critic, Professor Itse Sagay, said the clamp down smacks of insecurity in the land.
He wondered why a government that preaches due process and rule of law would close the TV house and whisk away its staff as if we are in a military government. His words: ‘‘All government should have done was to issue a statement debunking the Channel report that the president would resign on health grounds. And not to to resort to force as we have seen. I'm shocked and disappointed with Yar'Adua if truly he ordered for the clampdown.''
Similarly, former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said the government over-reacted in shutting Channels.
Wondering why the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) would deny knowledge of the news item from where the Channels' report was drawn, Tsav asked the federal government to apologise to Nigerians.
Comrade Shettima Yerima, President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, said it was barbaric and undemocratic.
He lambasted the President whom he described as too secretive about his health even when Nigerians know that he is sick.
Instead of venting his anger on the station, Yerima averred that the President should have bared his fang on his aides who did not inform the nation about his brittle health.
‘‘Nigerians deserve to know the state of health of their President. Ironically, the information managers have been dilly-dallying. If he wants to resign, let him do so. It is no big deal instead of venting his anger on the media.
The closure of Channels is condemnable in its totality'' the Arewa youth leader stated.
Lagos-based lawyer, Mike Ozhekome, said a government that has rule of law and due process as its cardinal principles must be careful not to open its flanks of being accused of impunity, which is the hallmark of dictatorship.
The human rights activist noted that the government's action has made the nation a laughing stock before the international community because, according to him, no government in the 21st century closes a media house for a mere news item without going through the due process of the law.