From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adeniyi Oluwatosin, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), have condemned the threat by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, over threat to impose sanctions on radio stations and the summon of their General Managers.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, on Tuesday, the APC chieftain described the governor’s threat as “unconstitutional assault on press freedom and a desperate attempt to suppress dissent in the wake of his illegal local government power grab.”
Similarly, the APM Chairman, Adewale Adebayo, in a statement, described Adeleke’s threat as calculated clampdown on independent media outlets and their executives for accommodating the views of opposition leaders.
He chided Governor Adeleke for alleged intimidation, undue probing and veiled threats issued against media managers in the state because they are providing platforms for opposition voices.
Governor Adeleke had warned radio stations in the state to desist from allowing incitement to violence and constant breach of the national broadcasting codes, and directed the Commissioner for Information to summon the general managers of radio stations for briefing before further action will be taken against them.
The APC chieftain said the action of the governor is not just hypocritical but a gross violation of Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.
“The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), not a partisan state official, holds the statutory mandate to regulate broadcast content. Governor Adeleke’s move reeks of political intimidation aimed at silencing critics of his administration’s treasonable disregard for the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating democratically elected LG officials .
“Governor Adeleke’s sudden concern for “broadcasting ethics” is laughably inconsistent. His administration has routinely weaponized state-owned media like the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) to launch vicious attacks on opposition figures, without any pretence of “fair hearing.”
He urged radio stations in the state not to attend the summon and reject any intimidation by the government.
The APM said, “We are not in a military dispensation but democratic society, hence the media can not be government propaganda machinery but should be a watchdog of democracy and a platform for all voices.
“The recent attempt by the Adeleke-led administration to stifle this space under the guise of “breach of broadcasting codes” and “incitement to violence” is a calculated clampdown on independent media outlets and their executives for accommodating the views of opposition leaders.
“This act of suppression undermines press freedom and poses a direct threat to democratic engagement and transparency in Osun State. It is not only unethical but also unconstitutional for any government to attempt to silence this bridge simply because it carries messages that may be inconvenient or critical of those in power.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the right of the media to operate independently.
“We view the actions of the Osun State Government as not just an attack on opposition voices, but a dangerous regression into authoritarianism. This is unacceptable in a state that should pride itself on transparency, good governance, and democratic plurality.
“The APM calls on civil society organisations, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and all defenders of free speech to rise up and resist this encroachment on press freedom in Osun State.
“We urge the Osun State Government to immediately stop all forms of harassment and intimidation of media professionals and instead focus on addressing the legitimate concerns raised by the people and the opposition,” Adebayo said.