Channels TV under fire over tweet about Obi and Biafra
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Channels Television falsely posted a now deleted tweet that Labour Party presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Peter Obi, asked for the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the tweet, Obi, who referred to Kanu as a pro-Biafra agitator, urged the federal government to release him.
The tweet has provoked Obi’s supporters into rage, especially because during the last election, his opponent smeared him as a Biafra sympathizer.
The tweet reads: “Peter Obi calls for new Nigeria where everyone stands a chance for growth and success. He also re-echoed requests for the release of pro-biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.”
Although Channels Television has deleted the tweet, saying it was wrongly attributed to Obi instead of Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, Obi supporters on Twitter claimed it was deliberate.
@MissPearls said: “Channels Tv @channelstv has become an APC propaganda machine media house. Their aim of oosting that first tweet has been achieved: Arm the Children of the corn with a propaganda tool. Then post & delete their apology on Instruction from nbove. We Know these games, We know all!”
@JosephOnuorah said: “Fake news merchants. Just collapse your structure into APC for proper delineation. Just imagine how many people acted on that information to defame HE Peter Obi for no reason. You posted an apology and still had the evil guts to delete it.”
@crownsAffairs said: “I always trusted your articles and news feeds. Guess I have to unfollow now, seems all news agencies in Nigeria now dish out fake news/propaganda.”
@EugeneOjirigho said: “@channelstv
That’s very disappointing! Don’t you have people reviewing and editing your tweets before they’re made like you have for your TV news segments? This error is egregious and unwarranted because it feds into certain ethnocentric & prejudiced narratives. Sad.”
