IPOB Tackles NBC Over Sanction Of Channels TV

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has berated the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for sanctioning Channels Television over its interview with the group on Sunday.

Naija News reports that NBC on Monday suspended Channels TV’s programme, ‘Politics Today’, and fined the television station N5 million for breaching the broadcast code.

The acting Director-General of NCC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, took the decision in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels TV titled, ‘Inciting Comments By Proscribed Group: Politics Today’

The commission accused the TV station of allowing the spokesman of the outlawed group, Emma Powerful, to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without being cautioned or reprimanded by the station.

NBC also accused the station of allowing Powerful to allegedly make derogatory and misleading statements about the Nigerian Army, despite being proscribed by a court of law.

However, some Nigerians and the opposition PDP have taken to social media to condemn the commission for sanctioning the station and heating up the polity.

But in a statement on Tuesday by the group’s spokesman, IPOB accused NBC of being undemocratic and partial in its judgement.

The group said the NBC ignored broadcasts featuring discussions between a prominent Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, and bandits.

IPOB, however, said that the federal government “cannot suppress the truth as far as IPOB” and the group’s demand for a Biafran state is concerned.

It described the action as irrational, draconian, and hypocritical, stressing that Nigeria was under the rule of a tyrant.

The statement reads: “The attention of the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great and indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the recent pronouncement by the hypocritical Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) that they have suspended and fined Channels Television for conducting a live and uncensored telephone interview with our Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on their prime time news show.

“This irrational, draconian and hypocritical action of the Federal Government through its agency, the NBC has simply confirmed our long-standing position that Nigeria is currently under a tyrant whose mission is to actualise total Islamisation and Fulani conquest of the country. We are not surprised but along with all good men and women of conscience, we strongly condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this wicked and undemocratic action.

“How many times has the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gunmi met with Fulani terrorists and Fulani bandits and the outcome of their parley aired on national televisions without NBC bathing an eyelid? How many times has the Boko Haram leader, Shekau’s message and threats been aired uncensored on national television without NBC imposing any sanctions on NTA?

“We have always said it that Nigeria and its security agencies lose sleep when a matter has to do with IPOB and Biafra. Nigeria has not sanctioned her Minister of Communications, a known terror apologist and staunch supporter of mass murderers, yet she is using state instruments of intimidation against an innocent media house for interviewing a spokesperson of a persecuted people.

“Why is Nigeria always afraid of the truth? After spreading blatant falsehood about how it murdered Ikonso, the Imo State Commander of Estern Security Network (ESN), IPOB was contacted to put the records straight, after which all hell broke loose at NBC.

“That Aso Rock viciously and wickedly turned against their long term buddy, Channels Television, tells you all you need to know about Fulani Janjaweedism. It confirms that you can’t be friends with this bunch of hardened terrorists in power in Nigeria.

“Nigerian media initially failed to investigate and report the accurate information about the death of Commander Ikonso and those with him. Sections of the media only peddled lies and fake news dished out by the same security agencies that murdered Ikonso in his sleep.”