The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has issued a strong-worded warning to Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, threatening to boycott all government-related activities if press freedom continues to be muzzled under his administration.
In a statement issued after a meeting with the CEO of Badeggi FM in Minna on Sunday, the forum’s Chairman, Abdullahi Yelwa, condemned what he described as the governor’s “illegal orders” to shut down Badeggi FM.
“I spoke this morning with Mohammed Badeggi, the CEO of the station, who confirmed to me that the station is fully operational despite the Governor’s unlawful attempts to close it down,” Yelwa said.
He accused the governor Bago of using state machinery to harass the station and obstruct its constitutionally guaranteed operations.
Yelwa lauded the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for resisting the unlawful directive, and commended the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, for standing firm in reminding the state government that it lacks authority to regulate an NBC-licensed station.
“We urge the governor to call his people to order. If this harassment continues, we may have no choice but to direct all our members in Niger State to boycott government activities,” he warned.
Yelwa stressed the need for leaders to adopt a more tolerant attitude towards the press, especially during times of insecurity and economic hardship.
He also criticised the continued preference for media based in the Lagos-Ibadan axis over indigenous Northern outlets, calling it an outdated and unfair practice.
“Northern governors are spending billions of naira on Southern media while our local media houses are left to die. Stations like Badeggi FM, which have endured so much, are now being targeted for closure,” he said.
The forum urged all member stations facing similar intimidation to report to the ABMPF secretariat for collective action, declaring that press suppression would no longer be tolerated.
