By Chimezie Godfrey
The Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE) has said that it will not stand and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
The association made this known in a statement signed by its President Mustapha Isah, and General Secretary Mary Atolagbe on Monday.
Recall that CHANNELS TV was on Monday suspended by the National Broadcasting Commission due to an interview it had with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr Emmanuel Powerful.
The NGE perceived the suspension as a threat to press freedom and intimidation of media houses, it therefore vowed to stand with CHANNELS TV to defend press freedom in Nigeria.
It stated,”The Nigerian Guild of Editors condemns in strong terms the threat issued to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over an interview with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful.
“Powerful had featured on Channels programme “Politics Today” on Sunday April 25, 2021 , where he allegedly made inciting statements.
“The NBC in the letter ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.
“The Guild will not stand by and watch media houses being threatened by regulatory agencies in the country.
“Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear .
“The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.
“The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.”
The NGE urged the NBC to jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.
It stressed that democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded.
