2015: NBC keeps mum as hate campaigns rule the airwaves

What has become a source of worry to media observers is that the parties and their candidates, despite the directives by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), have  engaged in the use of foul language, abusive words, and inciting, provocative and highly divisive comments during live broadcast of their campaign rallies in some of the nation’s […]

What has become a source of worry to media observers is that the parties and their candidates, despite the directives by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), have  engaged in the use of foul language, abusive words, and inciting, provocative and highly divisive comments during live broadcast of their campaign rallies in some of the nation’s TV stations, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) with little or no restraint from the regulatory commission.    
The NBC, as the regulator of the nation’s broadcasting industry had on May 30 directed TV stations nationwide to notify the commission in writing at least 48 hours before live-transmission of any political programme. It stated that authorities were worried that the content of political programmes was threatening Nigeria’s unity and peace ahead of the 2015 general elections.
 “The NBC can no longer tolerate the repeated abuse currently observed with this genre of programme particularly inciting, provocative, and highly divisive comments frequently served to the public as live political broadcasts,” the directive said.
It maintained that its directive was due to “rampant violation” of section 1.5.1 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which requires broadcasters to submit quarterly programme schedules at least a week before the beginning of each quarter.
NBC’s Head of Public Affairs,  Awwalu Salihu said with elections fast approaching, stations where live-broadcasting political events, paid for  by the politicians, parties, or other organizations  are being covered without being listed on their quarterly schedules would be dealt with. He said politicians from all political parties used the live events to insult opponents, make accusations, and stoke religious and sectarian sentiments.
However, when the parties and their candidates started  engaging one another in verbal attacks on the sponsored campaign rallies broadcast live on NTA and other private TV stations, the commission appears to be looking the other way more so as the president and the PDP kickstarted the onslaught during their  presidential campaign tagged Mega Rally in Lagos.
At the rally which was covered live by NTA, AIT and other stations, President Goodluck Jonathan held his audience spellbound with the way he delivered his speech and descended heavily on his opponent, Buhari and calling him names.
The president, during the rally televised live, said his opponent, Buhari belongs to the medieval age and that he (the APC candidate) intends to run the Federal Government as a medieval king.
Reacting on social media, a publisher, Dele Momodu said “As for me and my house, President Goodluck Jonathan gave his hottest speech ever today in Lagos using the strategy of shooting from the hips!”
Also, a  TV host,  Ebuka Obi Uchendu who believes the president was genuine said “Probably the first time I have seen President Jonathan speak from his heart. Angry but believable”.
During a rally in Enugu State on January 9, Jonathan also threw a jab at Buhari saying he could not remember his mobile phone number at his age. “Is it Buhari that cannot even remember his own phone number that can change the economy of the country?” Jonathan asked his supporters who gathered at the campaign rally.
The Buhari team did not take kindly with the President. The APC campaign handlers of the former Head of State in their reactions said the President’s campaign dwelled on personal attacks rather than addressing national issues and decided to hit back at him.  
The Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign, Garba Shehu, in a statement, accused President Jonathan of spending valuable time at the PDP Lagos and Enugu campaign rallies reading copiously excerpts from the maiden speech of a former Military Head Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on the day he overthrew Buhari in 1985.
They alleged that the PDP is focusing on Buhari’s comments perceived to be controversial; his administration of the country as the Head of State between December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985; his age (72), and his ethno-religious affiliation, among others.
In a recent attack on the APC presidential candidate by the PDP, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo at a rally covered by many TV stations including the NTA at Yola, the Adamawa State capital said the APC idea of combating the dreaded Boko Haram is to send Buhari who he said is over 70 to the war front. “But given the age of a man who retired in 1985 how long can he go before he collapsed,” the Vice President said.
At the PDP rally in Nasarawa state some of the  chieftains of the party on campaign train of the president and Jonathan himself took time to take a swipe at the former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who left the party to join APGA. The  Director General of the President’s Campaign Organization, Senator Ahmadu Ali shocked many when he described the former minister as an ‘ungrateful animal’ for leaving the party that brought him to limelight.
The Department of State Service recently warned the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, against what it described as inciting and unguarded statements during campaign rallies of the APC.  Amaechi, who is the Director-General, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, had said, “The challenge of the Nigerian military is not funding but corruption. Now they want to kill some 50 officers for their own failure to equip them properly to fight terrorism. The soldiers have the right to protest the Federal Government’s failure to fully equip them.”
DSS, in a statement by its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, on Monday said his utterances were meant to undermine the Federal Government.
The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, also worried by this noted that “abusive and demeaning words, and in some instances, offensive vituperations bordering on the macabre, have been hauled at opponents at the rallies of the political parties.
“This conduct definitely do not speak well of the maturity of aspiring leaders. Such acts contravene section 227 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and sections 94 and 95 of the Electoral Act. Besides, they grossly negate sections 5 – 8 of the Public Order Act and Article 3 of the Political Parties Code of conduct commonly agreed to and adopted by all political parties,” the IG said.
Last week the Media Director of the President’s Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode during a live broadcast blasted Buhari and his party, APC over the alleged certificate issue. Without control over the use of  his words he took on the retired general, describing him as a liar who should be arrested for the certificate he claimed to have been forged.
During the APC presidential campaign rally held in Lagos on Friday, last week, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a chieftain of the party went wild against those he claimed are agents of the PDP and were sent to disrupt his party’s rally. He said: “If you are an agent of PDP here and you are sent to disrupt this rally, we will roast you”
The growing cases of hate speeches and inciting utterances during live broadcast of parties campaign rallies have become  sources of concern among local and international stakeholders as the country moves toward the 2015 general elections.
To curb it, the  National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held an interactive session with journalists last week to examine ways of  tracking and checkmating the perpetrators of hate speech. The Commission said it is resolved to keep an eagle eye on  the political actors with a view to identifying the perpetrators and indicting them afterwards.
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from the  MacArthur  Foundation  and Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme,(NSRP) on Friday, last week held  an international meeting on “Dangerous Speech” at the Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja to check the excesses of the political parties and their candidates over these disturbing utterances as the general elections draw nearer.