Prior to the disclosure of documents outlining the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) criminal investigations of Bola Tinubu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Phrank Shaibu has raised the alarm over plots to censor the media by the APC-led administration.
Shaibu claimed the Tinubu-led administration was preparing a major offensive in the coming days following ongoing Chicago State University saga.
He opined the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) threat to penalise Arise TV was just the beginning.
“Back in February, the NBC tried to show a bit of fairness and fined TVC for unprofessional broadcasts, including the airing of the Joint Media Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council press briefing, where Festus Keyamo said Obasanjo and Atiku ran a criminal enterprise and an empire of fraud in Abuja.
“However, since Tinubu became president on May 29, the NBC has become more partisan than ever. The NBC boss, Balarabe Ilelah, is obviously seeking to retain his appointment and is now dancing to the tune of the APC and their master at the Presidential Villa.
“The NBC has now been co-opted into a grand plot to gag the media over Tinubu’s certificate scandal. Having lost the battle in the court of public opinion, they are now trying to use the powers of the state to browbeat the media into silence. This is indeed shameful for a man who claimed to be a hero of the June 12 struggle.”
Shaibu also emphasised that the Nigerian media should not display any weakness at this moment.
He pointed out that the FBI’s upcoming release of a large number of papers will reveal information on the investigation into Tinubu.
He further enjoined the media to fulfil Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution’s mandate that it serves as society’s watchdog.