ThisDay-Arise TV/Tinubu face-off: APC chieftain angry over PCC’s handling of issueFrom Romanus Ugwu and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) have come under criticism over its face-off with Thisday newspaper/ Arise Television.
The PCC and Thisday Newspaper/Arise Television have been engaged in brickbats over reports by the media organisations. Altercation between both parties climaxed when the board of the media organisation issued an editorial on Monday alleging that Bayo Onanuga and Dele Alake of the APC-PCC asked that two of the’ reporters found to be critical of the APC’s candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, be sacked.
Onanuga and Alake have, however, described the allegation as baseless and false and labelled the proprietor of Arise and ThisDay, Nduka Obaigbena, a blackmailer.
A member of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC) told Daily Sun that the rift was mis-timed and mal-handled.
“I am not particularly impressed with the handling of the development. Even if there should be such face-off, this is not the right time for it. The campaign is ongoing and instead of concentrating on soliciting votes from the electorate, they are busy engaging in a needless battle with the media. All I want them to know is that the media outfit have nothing to lose. It is our candidate that has everything to lose,” the NWC member argued.
Also reacting, the Atiku/ Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation slammed the APC-PCC for allegedly resorting to bullying the media.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, it said the APC campaign council should rather explain the allegations surrounding its presidential candidate. It stated that Tinubu having joined the presidential contest must be prepared to explain himself to Nigerians, including the media which has the basic constitutional responsibility to seek information on behalf of every Nigerian.
The Atiku/Okowa campaign council alleged that the APC presidential candidate and his handlers were attempting to play the victim so as to divert public attention.
“It is reprehensible and unmistakable sign of culpability that Asiwaju Tinubu and his campaigners have desperately resorted to bullying, intimidating and harassing media houses and journalists with a view to silence and stop them from questioning Asiwaju Tinubu…
“Indeed, Asiwaju Tinubu has shown that he does not possess the qualities of the leader Nigerians are yearning for at this critical time of our history.
“Our campaign urges Asiwaju Tinubu to note that his diversionary tactic and attack on the media will not stop Nigerians from raising the necessary posers. Tinubu should therefore fold his ‘agbada’ and respond to the media and Nigeria on the issues at hand.
“He should provide answers to allegations of certificate forgery, perjury, treasury-looting, continued fleecing of Lagos State as well as inconsistencies in his name, educational qualification, ancestry, and reported link with narcotics. This is in addition to Tinubu’s many gaffes, his constant claim of credit on the achievements of others as well as his reported plot to incite violence in the 2023 general elections by directing his supporters to grab, snatch and run away with power. These are questions which Asiwaju Tinubu, having brought himself out, must submit to a public probity by the Nigerian media,” it stated.
In a separate reaction, Atiku, in a statement by Phrank Shaibu, accused the APC candidate of shying away from public scrutiny and using proxies to answer questions.
According to him, of all the 18 presidential candidates, Tinubu was the only one that has refused to subject himself to a media interview.
He accused Tinubu of using crude and outdated tactics to muzzle free press and in the process deflect media interrogation.
“Rather than be bold enough to subject his ideas to public scrutiny, the APC presidential candidate and his team have been cleverly dodging dialectic public conversations. He continually argues that he doesn’t need physical strength to lead Nigeria but only the mental capacity.
“However, his refusal to publicly display this ‘intelligence’ and articulate his thoughts should worry every well-meaning Nigerians who are still suffering from the seven-year misrule of the All-Progressives Congress that has brought poverty, inflation and unemployment to an unprecedented height, but the truth is, whether Tinubu and his media team likes it or not Nigerians will ask all the tough questions including questions about Tinubu’s age, his health, his certificate, his state of origin, the source of his wealth, Muslim-Muslim ticket and many more; and there is nothing they can do about it!”
The Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Rule of Law, Accountability, and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), shared different views on the issue. While CACOL said Tinubu was not under any legal compulsion to appear at the Arise News Town hall meeting, RULLAC said that courtesy demands that he must appear for the meeting.
Executive Director of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, described the development as unfortunate, stressing that it should not have degenerated to its current level. He blamed the faceoff on APC’s wrong impression of the media outfit.
He said: “The paranoia and bias of the APC and its PCC may not be unconnected with the perception of Arise News and ThisDay media as pro-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Prince Nduka Obiegbena is closely associated with several PDP chieftains, and Dr. Ruben Abati, an anchor at Arise News, was a deputy governorship candidate to Buruji Kashamu under PDP in Ogun State.
“Rufai is also known to be hard and unrelenting in the way he asks his questions, almost as if he is engaged in a debate, and not presenting a programme. So, the fear is there that Arise News and ThisDay Newspapers are working for the PDP.
“The same perception could be held against Bola Tinubu, who also owns media outfits if this had happened the other way.
“I think the press should be professional in their work. Arise News should also know that there is no law that makes it compulsory for a politician seeking elective office to appear for a debate before a private television station. Arise News should have sought and got the consent of Bola Tinubu before announcing that he would be at the Town hall meeting.”
However, Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the APC has no right to dictate to the management of Arise News and ThisDay Newspapers, who among their staff to sack.
He also insisted that the presidential candidate of the party and other candidates for elective offices should subject themselves to public scrutiny by appearing for Town hall meetings and debates.
Nwanguma advised the APC to write officially to Rufai Oseni and Shaka Momodu if it had any allegation against them.
Also, reacting to the development, rights activist and former second vice president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, commended ThisDay and Arise for standing up for their staff if the allegation that they were asked to sack the reporters were anything to go by.
For the president of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, both parties should consider the interest of the country.
“Politicians will always play politics but journalists must at all time exhibit a high level of professionalism such that they shouldn’t be seen as taking side with any party. Both parties should just resolve whatever issue they have and work together for the good of the country because they need each other. This confrontation is not good for the country. The journalists want to report but they must be seen as civil and professional. The media house as an organisation cannot thrive without politicking and politicians also cannot survive without the media. In fact, democracy, which all of us are fighting for, cannot thrive and survive without the media. Journalists must not been as serving any personal or parochial interest; they must be professional in their reportage.” https://www.sunnewsonline.com/thisday-arise-tv-tinubu-face-off-apc-chieftain-angry-over-pccs-handling-of-issue/Nlfpmod |
