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Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by HAH: 8:56pm On Oct 25, 2009
http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2343.html

Summons Dokpesi over “Focus Nigeria”

Chief Raymond Dokpesi


President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has threatened to revoke the operational license of Africa Independent Television, AIT over what officials described as “threat to national security” from the stations talk program “Focus Nigeria.”

Sequel to this threat, AIT boss, Raymond Dokpesi directed that Aruleba be removed, and the contents of the program about government policies tilted in the administration’s favor.

Sources told pointblanknews.com that Dopkesi who was summoned to the Presidential Villa hurriedly made the change to avoid another visit from security operatives. The AIT was invaded some time last year, and the same Aruleba whisked away by SSS agents over an interview he had with Senator Joseph Waku.

Last week the program had a new host, Tunde Adewale.

“Focus Nigeria” a popular talk show program which was introduced by the station in January 2006 runs from 10.00am to 11.00am Monday to Friday x-rays issues in Nigeria and anchored by Gbenga Mike Aruleba.

Presidency sources say the Program is considered too critical of the Government of President Yar’Adua, even though government officials are often invited to defend policies.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that the Chairman and CEO of the television station, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was few days ago invited by the Presidency where he was roundly rebuked and accused of using his television station to “misinform and incite the Nigerian people against the administration of President Yar’Adua.”

Sources within the Presidential Villa told pointblanknews.com that the President was visibly angry that he promised to ensure that the Station is not just shut down but its operational license and the Television rights it was granted to air the FIFA U-17 World Cup equally revoked.

According to a source “the president gave them conditions which include stopping the program, changing the anchorman or losing their operational license and this time the president is very serious because this is not the first time he has complained about AIT.”

The source added that the President was particularly piqued by the way and manner the Program anchorman, Aruleba conducts the program and the types of comments and innuendos used during the program which tend to characterize the Yar’Adua’s presidency inept and corrupt.

Aruleba is not new to arrest and controversy. On June 14, 2006, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria's intelligence agency, invaded the premises of the country's largest private television network, (AIT), in Abuja and arrested Aruleba.

Initially, it was not clear why Aruleba was arrested as it was believed to be connected with an interview he granted a former senator, Joseph Waku, which was aired on the "Focus Nigeria" program the previous day, June 13.  Senator Waku had harshly criticized the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo during the interview.

Aruleba was released conditionally late on June 15 after he reportedly embarked on a hunger strike to protest his detention, but was asked to report back to the SSS office on  June 19.

On 14 May 2006, SSS agents raided the same Abuja office of AIT and seized the master tape of a 30-minute documentary advert on failed attempts by various past Nigerian heads of state to prolong their tenure in office.  Nigeria's National Assembly was then debating a controversial proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution in order, among other things, to extend the tenure of the President and state governors by a further four years

http://www.pointblanknews.com/os2343.html
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by Nobody: 9:09pm On Oct 25, 2009
and they say nigeria is a democracy undecided
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by olafolarin(m): 9:22pm On Oct 25, 2009
Freedom of expression is definitely not applicable in Nigeria.
Government officilas are supposed to listen to constructive critism as a pulse of the populace and made ammendments/adjustments as at when due.

Yar'Adua is just too incapable to rule a big and complex country like Nigeria.

I hope he will be voted out of office in 2011.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by kshow1(m): 9:37pm On Oct 25, 2009
What happen to the Freedom of speech/expression , Nigeria we hail thee
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by POSAKOSA1(m): 10:09pm On Oct 25, 2009
Source pls and pls don't say Saharareporters shocked shocked shocked shocked
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by inme: 10:25pm On Oct 25, 2009
We have dumb, inept and foolish pipo as leaders

Gbenga don suffer for SSS hand no be small

WE NEED REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by POSAKOSA1(m): 10:29pm On Oct 25, 2009
POSAKOSA1:

Source pls and pls don't say Saharareporters shocked shocked shocked shocked
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by Nobody: 10:32pm On Oct 25, 2009
Why is poster misleading us.,,in as much as you are trying to protect your source,may be you should give us the link to your incredible story.,amebo
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by youngmonie: 10:56pm On Oct 25, 2009
National Securityy!!!!!!!!!!! grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin, jus cnt stop laughinn!!!!!!
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by ndcide(m): 11:03pm On Oct 25, 2009
make that AIT man protect en investment oo b4 yar'adua ruin the thing for-am

na naija we dey
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by ndcide(m): 11:04pm On Oct 25, 2009
ait should ask about J fm in delta state
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by HAH: 1:18pm On Oct 26, 2009
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by nex(m): 1:50pm On Oct 26, 2009
Inciting and Misinforming the public are crimes in almost every country of the world. It is not Speech, Expression or Press. It is a very grievous crime.

During Obasanjo's first tenure, there was a journalist who claimed Obasanjo made $1 million for every trip he made abroad. He was shocked when the charges were being read to him in court.

Some time back, Channels Television announced the death of President Yar'Adua. Do you know the kind of turmoil such news could have thrown Nigeria into? So you people don't know there are laws preventing journalists from turning the USA to Somalia.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by bibiking1(m): 1:51pm On Oct 26, 2009
The nigerian state is obviously one that has never made hidden its dictatorial characteristics. From the days of Buhari up till now the kingdom of free expression has suffered violence and the violent have consistently paid with their blood, loved ones and their livelihood. This government is a continuum of that early repressive military mindset. However, nothin can stop the coming revolution, the blood of the tyrants shall water the tree of freedom.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by Afam(m): 2:02pm On Oct 26, 2009
There is nothing like freedom of information when it is abused. Power is nothing without control.

Personally, I have wondered why the station is allowed to air some very inciting stories which are usually unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.

Unfortunately, Nigerians have wrongly assumed that once you say anything against the government then you are a good person.

Information must be used and disseminated responsibly.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by ZUBBYNWA(m): 11:30am On Oct 27, 2009
why,that should not be done
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by jkemzy(m): 11:38am On Oct 27, 2009
Oga Ray,You had better put your money where your mouth is or else
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by Ben13: 11:47am On Oct 27, 2009
Yaradua never take slap before abi? cheesy
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by ProAnti: 11:47am On Oct 27, 2009
AIT is a private entity duly registered under the companies and allied matters act (CAMA) 1990.
If the FG feels aggrieved about their mode of operation, the best they can do is sue the company and not threaten to shut down the station. We are in a democracy and every body has the right to utter any word- good or bad, right or wrong, misleading or informing.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by foyeks2001(f): 11:50am On Oct 27, 2009
Afam:

There is nothing like freedom of information when it is abused. Power is nothing without control.

Personally, I have wondered why the station is allowed to air some very inciting stories which are usually unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.

Unfortunately, Nigerians have wrongly assumed that once you say anything against the government then you are a good person.

Information must be used and disseminated responsibly.

lets us hear word, am very sure that its either u are a P.A to our dear madam rebrand or u are her S.A or better still u are working with our yarasick and Jonathan
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by mcfestgee: 11:57am On Oct 27, 2009
WE ALL HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT NOT ALL ARE FREE AFTER THE SPEECH. Shutting down AIT will not repair the already battered image of this administration nor close all the leakages were the public receive the misdeed of the YARADUA ADMINISTRATION
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by chidichris(m): 12:03pm On Oct 27, 2009
There is nothing like freedom of information when it is abused. Power is nothing without control.

Personally, I have wondered why the station is allowed to air some very inciting stories which are usually unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.

Unfortunately, Nigerians have wrongly assumed that once you say anything against the government then you are a good person.

Information must be used and disseminated responsibly.

@afam,
in which aspect of your yar adua, pdp/obj madness do u find lacking?
the first and major crime of ait was the airing of live concert of the then third term and that has been their undoing hence the need to make sure the station suffers even if it takes 100 years to archieve that.
the truth of the matter is that those in power have failed and no station can use computer to change the status of our roads to suit those in power.
a bad road must be aired as a bad road.
make the road look nice for the people to see with the eyes and let us see when ait will go to niger republic and get a road their to decieve and excite us.
yar adua is veryu sick and ait has no choice than to show a sick man.
bode george is a criminal and we know that with or without ait. obj selects practically people for every political position in nigeria and that is what ait shows.
if you have your ways, afam, nta and other bought over stations will be ur tv stations of our time.
ait is trying and i expect more from them.
we are looking forward to blackouts at the various playing centers during the u17 games in nigeria and as soon as that is done, ait is expected to show that.
ina democratic setting my dear, their opositions and they are legal as they are called watchdogs, they are paid in advanced countries for bringing the govt to order.
your stupid and uninformed obj is an anti oposition.
nigerians adverts on cnn during obj's regime was cut off because of their documentary on niger delta so such rubbish is not new here.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by pcicero(m): 12:05pm On Oct 27, 2009
What the f, k is wrong with Mr President. He doesn't want people to be critical of his government yet the country is a mess. Did he view all the contents of the said programme? Well, thank God our leaders know what the people are saying but what are they doing about them? Nothing absolutely. But they become touchy when people are simply stating the obvious.
My advise is that the president should not shut down AIT, he should rather shut down the mouths of the hoards of advisers who are misleading him.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by wunmilyn(f): 12:06pm On Oct 27, 2009
I said it, dat man sickness is beginning to affect his brain.  undecided
he can't just think straight. Yaradull  angry
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by aocosatuyi: 12:09pm On Oct 27, 2009
In fact this is ridiculous.Focus Nigeria is my best programme on AIT and Gbenga is best presenter on TV.l really solidarised with Gbenga and AIT.The truth is that Yar Adua is not a listening ruler,l begin to believe that past adminstration may be better than this present one afterall.Where is rule of law this administration is talking about.Rule of law my foot, Yar adua,we dont want you in 2011,too undecisive n too slow 4 my liking and for Nigeria
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by dustydee: 12:14pm On Oct 27, 2009
they should have shut down NTA long ago.They ve been inciting me to violence with many of thier one sided stories.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by muhsin(m): 12:15pm On Oct 27, 2009
Serious? shocked
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by rasputinn(m): 12:28pm On Oct 27, 2009
This government is one huge joke,like the Ostricth,they think that once they bury their head in the sand,while the rest of their bodies are above the sand,that they cannot be seen,simply because they can't see

Now Yara confused is truly lost
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by theviper1: 12:30pm On Oct 27, 2009
ok, here we go again. this president is sick and we have seen that,but the part that is alien to us is the part that he is both blind and deaf . so he and his govt wants the whole nation to clap for his underperformance? give me a big break here,the roads are dilapidated,the lights are out,the water pipes are dry and the security of lives and properties are non-existent, and he is angry cos some1 said the truth. when other sensible and healthy leaders were gathering in Newyork for the UN general assembly,our yardeaf- and -blind  boarded the presidential plane and hopped over to the KSA, and that as well shouldnt be talked about? somebody was insuniating that press freedom and the liberty to express urself is being abused here,on which planet are u living in,cant u see that it is the governments that have over-abused the citizens so much so that we have no where to go again? i just wish that we as the pple have the right to remove that sick mountain-goat from aso rock via a bold vote of no confidence. rubbish.
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by rasputinn(m): 12:48pm On Oct 27, 2009
chidichris:

@afam,
in which aspect of your yar adua, pdp/obj madness do u find lacking?
your stupid and uninformed obj is an anti opposition.


I wonder
Re: Yar'adua Threatens To Shut Down AIT by Boboribo: 12:55pm On Oct 27, 2009
If the President can tackle AIT with such bravado and gusto and get results, why not apply same tactics to solve the power problem, roads and the other ills that beset this countr

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