AIT Ban Is Dangerous For Democracy - PDP

 Press statement from the PDP on AIT ban, which the APC has now lifted...

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unacceptable the Monday’s directive by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to bar a television house, the AIT, from covering his activities, saying the suppression of the media under any guise portends danger for the nation’s democracy.

 PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Tuesday said that after carefully studying the defence posited by General Buhari’s campaign spokesperson as well as the smokescreen statement by the APC to cover and mitigate his anti-media posture, the PDP and indeed all lovers of democracy are persuaded that the action was not only unjustifiable, but also unconstitutional and completely against the spirit of liberty and the rule of law in a democracy.

He said “the PDP as a party that have nurtured the nation’s democracy in the past 16 years cannot afford to fold its hands and watch the constitutional rights, media freedom and personal liberty of Nigerians, the basic tenets of democracy being demolished.

“We ask, is this a beginning of the feared erosion of the freedom and personal liberty the media and Nigerian citizens have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP led-administration? Has our dear nation finally fallen into the clutches of totalitarianism and impunity where government actions will based on egocentric decisions and impulses of individuals rather than the rule of law?

“While we assure the President-elect of our resolve to run a mature and responsible opposition based on issues, we are disturbed by this emerging development and reassure the Nigerian people that we will continue to stand with them on issues of democracy and freedom at all times.

“Perhaps, we need to remind General Buhari that part of the challenge of his new position, even as President-elect is that he has lost his private life which is now subject to public scrutiny and media interrogation, as required of the custodian of the mandate of the Nigerian people.

“The PDP is not oblivious of the background of the President-elect especially as it relates to the freedom of the media, but we had thought that having declared to be a converted democrat, he would make himself amenable to the basic principles of democracy by following the due process of the law on any circumstance.

“General Buhari may also wish to be reminded that the Nigerian constitution upon which provisions he emerged President-elect, also gave the media powers to cover activities of public office holders while at the same time providing legal avenues for redress in the event of any violation. If the right of the President-elect was in anyway violated by the AIT or any media house for that matter, he is expected to act within the law and seek redress in the courts otherwise one would have no option than to conclude that he is out for personal vendetta.

“The APC and the President-elect may have one or two lessons to pick from President Goodluck Jonathan, who though the most maligned and abused President in the history of our nation, even by the APC, allowed his actions to be sufficiently guided by humility, tolerance and the rule of law”, the PDP said.

The party called on Nigerians not to despair but remain steadfast and unite in resisting any anti-democratic tendencies intended to instill fear in them and set the stage for a dictatorial order and the erosion of their personal freedom and liberty as citizens, which they have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDP.

Signed:

Olisa Metuh

National Publicity Secretary

Read More...

Buhari Bars AIT From Covering His Activities

 Staffs of Africa Independent Television(AIT) have been barred from covering all activities of  the President-elect, Gen. Buhari until issues bordering on ethics and standards against them have been addressed.

 AIT crew members were today escorted out of the Defence House where the president-elect currently resides. He was about to have a meeting with the Cuban and Switzerland ambassadors when the reporters were escorted out.

 Speaking on the development, the spokesperson of the Buhari campaign organization, Shehu Garba said family and security concerns necessitated it.

"AIT has been asked to step aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics. We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter, but for now the station has been asked to stay aside because, like I said, there are some family and security concerns. 

They have been asked to step down their coverage until we resolve the matter with them on ethics and standards‎. You can quote me that I said that we have asked them to step aside and that we are resolving the the issues of ethics and standards with them.”he said

Read More...

And AIT Now Suing Bola Tinubu For N100billion

 Hopefully the coming elections won't be held in the court but polling station. Bola Tinubu's media office released a statement on Monday saying they are suing Daar Communications, owners of AIT for what he said was a defamatory content of a documentary aired on Sunday about him on their station. Tinubu asked the TV station to retract the documentary, issue a letter of apology and demanded N20billion as cost of damage done to his reputation.

 Now, AIT has counter-sued Tinubu. They are asking him to apologize for telling them to apologize to him when they were only just doing their job..lol. They are also asking for N100billion for injury inflicted on AIT. Choi! Lawyers go chop money anyhow. See AIT's press statement after the cut..

 Daar Communications Plc has reacted and rejected in their entirety the demands of Tunji Abayomi and co on behalf of Bola Tinubu over a documentary titled “Unmasking The Real Tinubu” transmitted on African Independent Television, AIT, according to a publication on its website.

 The demands, which Mike Ozekhome’s chambers describe as laughable, include the stoppage of further transmission of the alleged defamatory documentary, failure which Daar communications will be made to pay twenty billion Naira representing damages.

 In its reaction, Mike Ozekhome’s chambers on behalf of DAAR communications declares that AIT, in transmitting the documentary was only carrying out its constitutional responsibility to uphold the fundamental objectives of the constitution. It states further that the documentary merely stated that Bola Tinubu generally breached various portions of the Nigerian constitution. DAAR communications plc is therefore demanding a complete withdrawal of the letter under reference, which must be given wide publicity as that accorded the letter from the chambers of Tunji Abayomi.

 The media company demands an apology to be published in at least four leading national newspapers and four television stations, which must include NTA, Channels and AIT. The sum of one hundred billion Naira representing aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages for the irreparable injury inflicted on AIT is also being demanded.

Read More...