The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has tackled the
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for sanctioning Channels Television over
its interview with the group.
Emma Powerful, the IPOB spokesman, accused NBC of being
undemocratic with the sanction and ignoring broadcasts featuring what Ahmad
Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, had discussed with bandits.
Recall that NBC directed the “immediate stop” of Channels
TV’s ‘Politics Today’ programme which had featured Powerful on Sunday.
In a letter to the TV station, Armstrong Idachaba
(pictured), acting NBC director-general, had said the IPOB spokesman made
inciting comments without being cautioned by the anchor.
He had also said some of the comments from IPOB — which the
Nigerian government designated as a terrorist organisation in 2017 — “amount to
subversion of constituted authority.”
But in a statement on Tuesday, the secessionist group
alleged that the NBC was being partial in its judgement. It cited the case of
Gumi, who has discussed his meeting with bandits in the past during live TV
programmes.
“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,” it said.
“How many times has
the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gunmi, met with Fulani bandits and the outcome of
their parley aired on national televisions without NBC batting an eyelid? How
many times have 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.”
The statement added that the federal government “cannot
suppress the truth as far as IPOB” and the group’s demand for a Biafran state
is concerned. “We will always put the records straight because the facts will
always speak for itself,” it added.
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