The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has decried the activities and actions of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) against media organisations.
The CUPP said that the NBC has been promoting dictatorship and leading a new war against the media and right to free speech.
The NBC on Thursday fined Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, the sum N5 million.
The offence against the station, according to NBC, was the comments of Dr. Mailafia Obadia on the Southern Kaduna Crisis, adding that the comments were devoid of facts and by broadcasting same to the public, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, was in violation of some sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“Consequent on these provisions and in line with the amendment of the 6th edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Nigeria Info 99.3FM Lagos, has been fined the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira), only,” the NBC said.
READ ALSO: MRA Condemns NBC’s N5 Million Fine on ‘Nigeria Info 99.3FM’
Reacting to the development, the CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said, “What the NBC, which is turning into an agency for promotion of dictatorship and leading the new war against the media and right to free speech, has not told Nigerians the details of what constitutes offensive speech.
“They should state in fact, words that are abusive by their standards let’s understand what exactly they mean by ‘denigrates the social norms, values and culture of the society.’ They are becoming shameless.”
Stressing what he termed incompetence of the presidency and others and their constant violations of human rights, the CUPP said such developments “are against our social norms, values and culture as well.
“They have been abusing a large number of us and when we call them to order, to do the needful or step aside, we are very well in our right as citizens.
“This is the highest degree of oppression. Beating up a child and asking that child not to cry is abuse. If you do not want the child to cry, then do not beat the child. Fix the system and Nigerians will quit complaining.”
