Founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi, has said he would stage a protest against “plots by the All Progressives Congress- led Federal Government” to gag the media and suppress free speech.
A statement from his office in Abuja on Tuesday stated that Dokpesi would be embarking on a “one-man demonstration” to the National Assembly on Thursday, June 6, 2019, after addressing a world press conference at the AIT Complex, Asokoro, Abuja.
The protest is in response to some letters written by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to Daar Communications Group, owner of African Independent Television, AIT and Raypower FM over some reports it felt were unprofessional.
In the two letters, dated May 27, 2019, signed by its Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, the Commission, accused the stations, AIT and Raypower FM of airing “offensive, unfair and unprofessional” content in violation of rules.
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He, therefore, asked both stations to explain why they should not be sanctioned.
In his statement in response to NBC’s letters, Dokpesi said: “We invite all Nigerians and the international community to note this obvious act of brigandage against freedom of speech and association as clearly expressed in our Constitution.
“AIT and Raypower have not violated any code of broadcasting as alleged by the NBC. The NBC and the government in power are not comfortable with the broadcast industry because of its courageous and dogged stance in informing Nigerians on happenings in the country.
“We are in a Democracy and must all rise to defend Nigeria from anti democratic forces,” the statement stated.
