By Juliet Nwite and Josephine Uzorh
Nigerians on Thursday, June 6, protested against a ban on a programme which aires on AIT, KAAKI SOCIALS, by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
They said the move was a clampdown on free speech.
KakaakiSocial brings to light trending issues on the social media which arouse the interest of Nigerians.
The African Independent Television (AIT) and its subsidiary, Raypower FM, says the NBC has targeted it for persecutions, restricting and imposing outrageous fines on its content.
The Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, accused the presidency of being the brain behind the clampdown.
An online movement tagged #ISTANDWITHKAAKISOCIAL is already gathering followers and Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their displeasure concerning NBC’s decision.
“You have gagged the Judiciary. You tried to gag the Legislature.
“You have gagged the Civil Societies. You tried to gag the Social media. Now, you are trying to gag the mainstream media too.
“Buhari…shame on you. Enough is enough,” says @realDewoye
Another twitter handle, @myunicy says: “It was the invasion of the Daily Trust newspaper House by soldiers in broad daylight the other day. Now, it’s #KakaakiSocial. Media is the fourth estate of the realm. No nation thrives very well when the media and other arms of government are pillaged and turned into dust.”
For @henryshield, the whole thing is a witch hunt. “I have it on good authority from many viewers that @KaakakionAIT Social is being targeted. Complaints about yanking them off whenever they want to go on air. Since we won’t let a Pres. Atiku shut down Nations Newspaper, TVC, etc during his tenure, we ask that Buhari’s govt behaves.”
But @muyiwag holds a contrary view. “Freedom of the press does not mean freedom from responsibility. Free speech doesn’t entitle you to freely propagate hate speech & fake news that cause ethnic tension, mutual suspicion and treason. Don’t be a mouthpiece for sociopaths. This applies to @AIT_Online #KakaakiSocial.”