Al-Makura’s reign of intolerance

Proximity is not the only thing Nasarawa State shares with the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. In addition to contiguity, it is legitimate to assume that Nasarawa is determined to upgrade intolerance to a dizzying level.

The state might not match the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in terms of physical development, but it is determined to improve upon a disturbing track record of intolerance that the Federal Government has increasingly come under fire for. Like the relationship between the nose and eyes, what affects one seems to reverberate against the other.

It is important to re-affirm that the finer details of this relationship usually finds expression in many ways than we can possibly imagine, either positively or otherwise. On the positive side, for example, proximity could inspire one to want to upgrade the other’s record, just as this inspiration could work in reverse, as in the Nasarawa case under review.

Criminologists say that unscrupulous folks usually exploit the relative safety in satellite settlements to spring surprise attacks in congested urban centres that are traditionally under maximum attention from security agents. They enjoy safe bases from satellite communities that are less pried upon by security agents. In addition to offering comparatively better opportunities for quick retreat from pursuits, satellite settlements also enjoy greater possibility for zero-detection by security agents.

The proximity to urban centres also offers greater possibility of trends developing faster in satellite settlements. These comparative advantages are further complemented by being less expensive; a huge attraction that satellite communities in Nasarawa State are not shy to flaunt at Abuja residents.

Apparently inspired by the growing propensity of the Federal Government to be unduly impatient with opposition, including avoidable insensitivity to criticisms, the Nasarawa State Government over-reached itself by demolishing the first privately-owned media organisation in the north central state, the Breeze 99.9 FM, which began operation in Lafia, the state capital, about two months ago.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Nasarawa state chapter, condemned the action by the state government, as “an assault on the media and threat to press freedom in the state.’’ Its chairman, Mr. Dogo Shamah, told newsmen this shortly after officials of Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB) demolished the radio house, allegedly because it flouted urban planning laws.

The NUJ is not alone in condemning Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for this epic fit of intolerance that surpasses the cue from Abuja. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) described the demolition as “shocking and unbelievable”.
The structures were demolished on Saturday, May 20, 2017, by the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), over alleged violation of approved land laws. Mrs. Franca Ayetan, NBC Zonal Director for North-Central, who led a team on a verification visit to the destroyed station, said that the development was surprising because the station followed due process in obtaining its broadcast license.

“The owner of the private radio station, Dr. Nawani Aboki, followed due process in obtaining the broadcast license after all necessary inspections were carried out. “On March 31, when we came to commission the station, the state government was fully represented.

“If government had raised any reservation then, as a regulatory body, we would have waited a little more before inaugurating the station. But none was raised,” Ayetan said, adding that the NBC would seek for justice in the matter, but promised to follow due process in doing that. The Director said that the commission, apart from being a regulatory body, had the mandate to protect broadcasters from any form of injustice or attacks. She commiserated with the owner of the station over the action, pointing out that the prime reason for deregulating the broadcasting industry was to give the people alternative voices to bare their minds. The official said that the NBC had been monitoring Breeze 99.9 FM broadcast and had never found a breach of the guidelines of the Nigeria broadcasting code. She said that the commission had never received any complaint regarding offensive or inciting broadcast from the station, since it went on air on March 31.

“We are sad that this is somebody’s investment being destroyed. We are also sad that a radio frequency serving as a platform for the airing of views has been destroyed. “A Frequency is usually given to owners of licenses to hold in trust for the people; this station has not abused that trust. It has served the audience diligently.

“We will support the owner of the station to recover and continue,” she said and urged the proprietor not to allow the alternative voice to die, stressing that the main component of a station was not the physical building, but the voice and broadcast licence.

“That the structure has been destroyed does not mean you should stop broadcasting, given that advancement in technology broadcast has been made easy,” she said.

Gov. Al-Makura has a unique record of intolerance. Recall that it was on the instructions of his administration that the Nigeria Police Force allegedly killed some workers in the state who were protesting under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The assault on press freedom by demolishing a media house without reason is not sole proof of Gov. Al-Makura’s growing penchant for intolerance of alternative views. Demolishing a privately-owned organisation without prior complaint or justification against the station and without following due process confirms the substantive allegation of Gov. Al-Makura’s legacy of intolerance that he struggled to deny when he was first confronted with the allegation