Guild of Editors frowns at Closure of AIT, RAY POWER

BY TAIWO FAROTIMI

The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE has condemned the indefinite suspension of the operating licenses of Africa Independent Television, AIT and RAY POWER by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC. In a release signed by Funke Egbemode, president of the Guild it described the action of the regulatory body as extreme. The two stations owned by DAAR Communications Ltd were sanctioned, according to the NBC, for flouting the regulations of the Commission. It cited in part the use of online stories in its broadcast.
But the Guild carpeted NBC for muzzling the media. The statement said, “The Guild demands in clear terms the revocation of the suspension order as it runs contrary to the ideals of free speech and the fine tenets of press freedom. This is a case of Executive highhandedness and it paints our dear country in the darkest tar of dictatorship.”
The Guild said this “ignoble and despicable decision” should be reversed since the mandate of the NBC was not to kill the media. It also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Commission to reverse the “draconian” order.
Chief Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications had staged a solo protest to the National Assembly against the NBC decision. That protest apparently had no effect on the executive arm of government.