A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on
Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, Otega Ogra, has criticised former
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his reaction to a recent directive by the
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcast stations.
The NBC had, in a statement on Saturday, warned television
broadcasters and anchors against breaches of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code,
stressing the need for fairness, balance, accuracy, and avoidance of hate
speech and incitement, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission said it would enforce “strict and
uncompromised compliance” with its regulations, urging professionalism in the
coverage of political and related issues.
Reacting, Atiku accused the regulator of attempting to
“muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria,” adding
that the country’s media should not be subjected to persistent regulatory
constraints, especially during election periods.
However, in a counterstatement posted on X on Sunday, Ogra
faulted the former vice-president’s position, drawing parallels with a similar
directive issued during the 2007 elections when Atiku was in office.
“First off, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar… are you saying the NBC
regulatory warning on January 17, 2007 for broadcasters to follow the code of
practice when you were VP was an attempt by your administration to illegally
muzzle opposition?” Ogra said.
“Is that what you are trying to project on them now, seeing
that may have been your thought process when they simply did their job back
then?” he added.
The presidential aide argued that Atiku failed to
distinguish between regulatory responsibilities and overreach.
“You want to contest again to lead our country yet you
cannot deduce the difference between a regulator doing its regulatory work as
clearly spelt out by its establishing laws, and regulatory overreach,” he said.
Ogra also criticised Atiku’s past role in Nigeria’s
privatisation programme, alleging poor outcomes across several state-owned
enterprises.
“No wonder almost all the actions you took as Chairman of
Nigeria Council on Privatisation… led to failures across many fronts,” he said,
listing entities such as NITEL, Nigeria Airways, Ajaokuta Steel Company, and
others.
He further urged the former vice-president to “proofread
what your handlers… are writing on your behalf.”
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