From Maiharaji Altine
The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has vowed to protect media practitioners against harassment and intimidation by the government and its agents.
This was contained in a solidarity letter written by the BON to Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum in respect of dragging Shuaibu Mungadi, Tijjani Ramalan and other media houses to court by the Minister of State Defence, Bello Mattawalle for alleged defamation and malicious reportage.
The BON said it has vehemently opposed the harassment, intimidation, suppression, and repression
of the media and media practitioners by government and government agents
under whatever disguise.
It further maintained that, it would collaborate with other civil society organizations to protect the integrity of media practitioners in the country to enable them discharge their primary responsibilities.
The letter reads in parts as follows:
“We received your letter dated 15th November, detailing the attempts of some top government functionalities at frustrating and strangulating the
media from performing its assigned roles”.
“Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) as matter of deliberate policy
vehemently opposes harassment, intimidation, suppression, and repression
of the media and media practitioners by government and government agents
under whatever disguise”.
“BON will not only continue to support the media in performing its assigned
constitutional responsibilities, but the organisation will remain in the front of
the battle to ensure that public interest is protected by those in government”.
“We have alerted our partners in the civil society organisations and the media
on this development to ensure concerted efforts of mounting pressure until
the order of the court on this matter is vacated”.
