JUST when Nigeria was pushing back on a judgment by a Canadian Federal Court that dubbed the two major political parties as terrorist organisations, the actions of public office holders tend to lend credence to the Canadian judge’s perception. In denying an application for refugee status to a Nigerian in Canada, the judge ruled that any act by any political, religious or ideological group that causes death, serious bodily harm, intimidation and risk to any life is akin to terrorism.
Earlier this August, Governor Umar Bago of Niger State unilaterally and in unmistakable abuse of power shut down Badeggi Radio; a private broadcast organisation, over what he saw as the station’s criticism of his government. Bago’s action defeats the Federal Government’s argument that Nigeria is a “sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework”. The Niger State governor obviously sees himself as beyond the rule of law. If it was otherwise, he would have gone to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the statutory body established by the constitution to regulate broadcasting, with a formal complaint.
Unfortunately, Governor Bago seems to be having his way as neither the NBC or the Minister of Information has drawn his attention to the unconstitutional action in closing Badeggi Radio, as well as the collateral harm and negative global attention it has drawn to the country despite the outrage generated by the closure, especially the vehement objection of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and a Minna-based CSO, the Accountability Ambassadors.
Bago had directed the state Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Homeland Security to seal the media outfit, having found its broadcasts unfavourable.
His Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Bologi Ibrahim, in a statement, said the governor gave the directive during the expanded Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting held at the Government House, Minna. According to Mr. Ibrahim, the decision was taken because of the daily activities of the radio station. He said the governor accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against his government and directed that the license of the radio station be revoked.
The governor had no power to revoke the broadcast license of Badeggi Radio. He did not grant the license as doing so is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. For a state that has been in the news for wanton attacks on many of its communities by terrorist groups, Governor Bago’s action illustrates the failure of leadership when contrary opinions are seen as security threat.
Already, Amnesty International has said the governor’s targeting of independent media was aimed at depriving the people of the opportunity to receive fair and objective reporting of issues affecting their lives. His action and similar ones by public office holders more than any other factor validate the position of the Canadian Federal Court ruling. In effect, the abuse of power by some governors who, like the President, enjoys constitutional immunity, in fact, constitute security threat.
With no mechanism to check unconstitutional actions of governors, a lot of harm would have been done to country’s perception by the international community before the governor is called to order.
We are of the view that a legal valve that should be automatically activated any time an unconstitutional action similar to that taken by Governor Bago be put in place to save the people from impunity and overreach of governors and the executive branch when they over step their bounds. We call on the Niger State governor to immediately retrace his state, reopen Badeggi Radio, and refrain from inflicting more pains on his people. He should concentrate on securing his people from the wanton killing that has been their lot from terrorists for many years.
