President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari may have just started a revenge mission on the African Independent Television, AIT as security advisers of the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on Monday barred the television crew of the African Independent Television from covering the activities of their principal until further notice.
It was gathered that the security team cited adverse security reports and ethical issues as reasons for their action.
Members of the AIT crew, who were at Defence House, venue of a meeting between the President-elect and a visiting Cuban delegation, led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, were asked to leave the vicinity until further notice.
The crew, who did not speak on record, insisted they would remain and continue to do their jobs because they had yet to be “formally informed.”
“Yes, we were told but we cannot just leave; we have a job to do. In any case, we have not been officially informed about what we have done wrong,” one of them said.
Director of Press of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed the development.
He said concerns over security and the need to sort out some ethical issues were responsible for the action.
Shehu said, “AIT has been asked to stay aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, General 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.”
Freedom of the Press is been threatened. None of the Anti GEJ media was bound for any family or ethical issue. We need the press to keep govt on their toes
ReplyDeleteI disagree, if Obama banned Boston Herald ffrom covering his activities because of their bias in 2011 (http://www.mediaite.com/online/white-house-refuses-event-access-to-boston-herald-calls-out-mitt-romneys-front-page-op-ed/)
DeleteWHY CAN'T BUHARI DO THE SAME ABOUT AIT, to a TV station that was not only biased, but promoted hours of hate documentaries and lies against him.
And you accept this as good because Obama did it one time, are we still in the era of copy copy or are we after change?
DeleteChange ya zo!!! This man should concentrate on his promises to Nigerians that made him to win d election than vindictively looking for who campaigned /voted for him or not. If he has issues with d AIT, he should take it up with d Press Council or allow d court to resolve it than taking the laws into his hands. He shouldn't intimidate AIT with security. This is 2015 nd not 1984. This is democracy nd not militacrazy!
ReplyDeleteFunny indeed, Mr Buhari is this the style of leadership you want us to see? We voted for you but not for this. Jonathan was called names and abused but he never embarked on revenge mission
ReplyDeleteWhat Mujahid Asari-Dokubo said might be right,fighting perceived enemies have started.Hmmm,we are in democracy not in militarycracy oga changes.
ReplyDeleteNice one. They don't deserve to exist. AIT is the most corrupt and controversial radio station I have known.
ReplyDeleteAnd here begins the era of another African dictatorship! First ban the media cause you don't like what they say about you, next throw everyone in jail who has a different opinion or disagrees with you then change the laws to allow you duke for ever. It starts slowly but surely. In 10 years all those shouting for change will be on the streets rioting for Buhari to hand over power. I agree GEJ had to go because he wasn't moving the country forward but Buhari was definetly not the right answer.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, if Obama banned Boston Herald from covering his activities because of their bias in 2011 (http://www.mediaite.com/online/white-house-refuses-event-access-to-boston-herald-calls-out-mitt-romneys-front-page-op-ed/)
DeleteWHY CAN'T BUHARI DO THE SAME ABOUT AIT, to a TV station that was not only biased, but promoted hours of hate documentaries and lies against him.
@Anonymous 8:20am thanks for this useful link. if the whitehouse could barred the Herald Press because of an op-ed then GMB has no qualms in doing same and even more to a more biased AIT.
DeleteVery well deserved, AIT should continue licking PDP's balls now that the party is dead. After broadcasting libelous things against the man.
ReplyDeleteAlternateworld Media is a dictator in the making. Nigerians should watch him VERY closely.
DeleteWe cannot say that because we wanted freedom of speech, we will degenerate into personal abuses and name calling. if the President elect said it is for security reasons, so be it! who knows ?
ReplyDeleteI once said it in the media that Alhaji General Muhammadu Buhari will never change his character. This is a typical example of his promises for change.
ReplyDeleteA good step by PRESIDENT GMB. AIT's license should be withdrawn for being so short-sighted. Yes, there MUST be FREEDOM of the PRESS, not the type of journalism done by Raymond Dokpesi's AIT. He and his POLITICISED STATION MUST face the consequences of their STUPIDITY. Thank God for May 29. O.J
ReplyDeleteBuhari should also revoke the license of NTA. They also short-sightedly aired the same clip on Buhari as AIT did.
DeleteNTA is govt owned, he doesn't need to revoke their license, all he needs to do is to fire some people
DeleteBuhari is very immature at heart. With this early morning outburst of "reprisal hate' He is the father of the nation now. His status as an aspirant as changed. He is the president in weeks.
Deleteit all started years ago when the freedom of speech were denied and freedom of press is again on d run
ReplyDeleteFreedom without responsibilities is a disaster and Ait and other media station must learn that politics is not war nor time to spread obvious lies about our national heritage and Heroes and newtons third law of motion says actions and reactions are equal and opposite
ReplyDeleteGood for AIT. They seem to forget so fast how we were made to contribute 100 naira to AIT when the banks were going to take over the establishment. Since AIT clearly showed he is PDPig, he should be treated as such.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm this change will soon choke Nigerians, am laughing in Chinese Huhuhuhu
ReplyDeleteWhat are we talking about? A IT has no professional integrity. I remember a man was killed in Afghanistan with bomb planted in a press man's video camera. A it can do that, cos Dokpesi benefitted from GEJ. They can even poison the microphone they put in GMB's mouth so please do not criticise our president elect for being security conscious. Who knows what anti progressives are planning. God will continue to keep GMB safe, who God has blessed no man can curse.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you anonymous 9:28. However people are free to make their input, but they have to understand one thing. Buhari and his team have to be very careful cos nothing good comes so easy. He has to keep AIT at arms length. They could be upto something.
DeleteIn 1984, gmb &Tunde Idiagbon jailed some journalists and promulgated a decree against the press, today it is AIT, tomorrow it may be you. Its too early for this, NNPC $20T to be probed, Sanusi's N3T flight costs to swept under the carpet, cos some of it found its way into APC campaign bills. Let him concentrate on bringing to pass his campaign promises, bring back chibok girls, quarsh Boko Haram. Give hope to Nigerians again.
DeleteThis Useless Terrorist Buharia thinks we are still in Military era,AIT should immediately sue his ass to court,Useless Dictator,concentrate on the fake promises you made and not chasing shadows bcos you are gonna get it hurt with you soon.
ReplyDeleteIf AIT was the only one sent out because of its professional misconduct and others were allowed to cover the event, it is very good. It will serve as lesson for others. AIT needs to face the consequence of their actions. When you deliberately broadcast inciting, hateful and perjured documentary about someone personality in other to run him down in other to promote or give an edge to his opponent in a competition is very, very bad! Since the time Buhari has left the office, what was AIT doing that it did not broadcast it when Buhari contested with OBJ, or when he contested against Yaradua of during the campaign in the election before the last one. So, this confirmed it as a calculated attempt and conspiracy between AIT and the ruling PDP. Since AIT jettisoned professionalism and embrace partisanism, Let us not be carried away by emotions, AIT deserves what is meted out to it by GMB since NBC failed to sanction AIT on that provocative and perjured documentary that was aired by them severally on their station.
ReplyDeleteVery good Mister President. Freedom of expression doesn't mean libertinage. Please revoke the license of NTA too, and give it back to them only after a whole week broadcasted apology.
ReplyDeleteThe integrity of AIT reporting is questionable. Freedom of press abi? Allow press to publish your private parts because they have freedom. Your freedom must not infringe on another person's right of privacy. They should cover other events in Nigeria. Why are they looking for Sympathy? Or they have new documentary about Buhari?
ReplyDeleteOga Buhari you must be magnanimous in victory and stop looking for who to victimize as that style is OLD SKOOL
ReplyDeletePDP needed someone to do there DIRTY JOB and DOKPESI's AIT was available cus he was BROKE and needed the MONEY BADLY so he was given the responsibility to SPREAD LIES, HATE,etc against the opposition candidate GMB. U dont jump in to the sea with both legs ,you 1st test the waters with one leg but in DOKPESI's case he jumped into the water with both legs and EVEN CLOSE HIS EYES.The government of GMB can BAR ATI from covering there programs and event SIMPLY BASE ON SECURITY REASONS. and so will it be PERIOD.
ReplyDeleteGeneral never retiree o...so wat wld GEJ have done to Channels T.V?
ReplyDeleteChannels simply gave live updates about politics and election vis-a-vis the Nigeria political party and INEC. Not that they say GEJ is corrupt or is bad. They simply leave judgement to the mass but show all Wat is going on. Unlike AIT. Who advertised....Caboom....Nigeria is finished
Deletehope you remember that.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A MAN WHO DO NOT HAVE A WASC RESULT AND WAS ELECTED AS A PRESIDENT? THIS IS JUST THE STARTING POINT. ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED HIM IN WILL SUFFER.
DeleteThere is time for everything in life. Time to sow and time to reap, time to speak and time to refrain from speaking etc.
ReplyDeleteStill on Buhari and the AIT saga
ReplyDeleteWhen the FG illegally detained Aljeezera journalists for about 2 weeks, where were these overnight media rights activists?
Did we forget so soon how president Jonathan and seriake Dickson jailed Sir Tonye Okio for almost one year his fellow bayelsa brother just because of a facebook post?
When the FG sent soldiers to seize newspapers from a media house, where were these media rights activists?
Someone openly declares war on you and wishes you dead and because you won the election, you expect GMB to open his gates to all and sundry.
Please before you talk about rights and moral apply common sense.
Point one - Mr President Elect has barred and not banned. He is in his rights to.
Point two - He sited his security and safety as reasons for the barring. Very logical.
Point three - He has specified he does not want AIT covering his private and personal events. What is wrong in that?
Post this on all social media to counter all the noise people are making up and down
With the kind of hate campaign and falsehood against a person, the President-elect should not allow AIT get n ear his programme. Forget all the crocodile tears of freedom of press. No media station ever did such kind of obscene, unprofessional and hate campaign against Goodluck.
ReplyDeleteJust because JEG or Obama did something doesn't make it right. And if AIT falsely broadcasted something about Buhari and APC he has the right to sue them and hopefully get a ruling that will cause them to go bankrupt but he doesn't have the right to ban them. In civil societies the rule of law means if you have a grieniance you go to court. The executive arm cannot be the judge and jury...there must be balance of power otherwise you have a dictatorship. I don't care for AIT or GEJ or Buhari for that matter, I care about Nigeria and the rule of law. Matters should be settled in a court room not through decrees or bans. The executive, judiciary and legislative arms of government must play their separate roles for a country to progress and neither should usurp power.
ReplyDelete