By Nicholas Ojo
The board of editors of THISDAY/ARISE News on Monday accused the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC PCC, Bayo Onanuga, and the Director, Strategic Communication, Dele Alake of continuous attacks on the news platforms.
The editors who described the conduct as unprofessional, alleged that the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is attempting to bully independent media organisations in the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.
This is contained in a joint statement issued by the THISDAY/ARISE News Boards of Editors titled ‘Tinubu and THISDAY/ARISE Media Group and the Attack on Free Speech’.
The statement reads in part; “The more we have ignored them, the more they have mistaken our silence for cowardice and continued their unrelentless attacks with virulence, even threatening us with The Nigerian Press Council.
“A Press Council that has been completely rejected by the mainstream independent Nigerian media precisely for this reason: misuse and abuse by an incipient dictatorship.
“They are wrong. Truth and the pursuit thereof, and the reporting of facts are not biased. The duo has taken unprofessionalism, recklessness, picayune politics and blackmail to a new art form.
“After their first press statement, we ignored them; but they authored a second statement, which we again ignored, not wanting to insert ourselves into the political discourse.
“Imagine these insecure duos of Onanuga and Alake already threatening the free press when they are seeking our votes. What will they do if Tinubu was elected President? Kill independent media or take their markets over using the power of the state and replacing them with media platforms they control and which kowtow to them?”
Commenting on the drug trafficking allegations against APC presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, the editors stressed the need for the candidate to clear the air on the matter.
They also urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to publicize their reports on the matter ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Have the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) investigated this? We need their reports and clarity, one way or the other, in this most important national security question on the 2023 elections with implications for our democracy.”
The editors condemned the APC campaign council for claiming that the organisers of the debates are biased against the party’s presidential candidate. Noting that seeking the truth on allegations concerning Tinubu is not bias.
The THISDAY/ARISE News editors further accused the leadership of the APC presidential campaign media team of trying to interfere in the running of the two news organisations.
“They are wrong. Truth and the pursuit thereof, and the reporting of facts is no bias. The duo (Onanuga and Alake) has taken unprofessionalism, recklessness, picayune politics and blackmail to a new art form. After their first press statement, we ignored them; but they authored a second statement, which we again ignored, not wanting to insert ourselves into the political discourse.
“We also note that two senior APC campaign officials had separately requested that we move THISDAY Editor and columnist, Shaka Momodu, and The Morning Show co-host on ARISE News, Rufai Oseni, from their current positions to stop the attacks or get reprieve from a future Tinubu presidency.
“The Boards of Editors of THISDAY Newspapers and the ARISE News Channel would like to state without equivocation that we do not fire journalists because of their views.
“Facts are sacred and opinions free is the age-old dictum to which all free-thinking men subscribe. We allow our editors the freedom to air their opinions unfettered and have created The Office of the Ombudsman to take any complaints and discipline any abuse of office by any of our staff members,” the statement added.
“We will continue to be open, unbiased and professional. However, we will not be intimidated by the bullying tactics of some APC campaign officials,” the statement noted.
However, reacting to the issue raised, the Tinubu/Shettima group took to its Twitter page to ask the organisation to comment on the allegation against its lead presenter, Reuben Abati.
“Dear @ARISEtv is it true that you were financed with proceed of corruption which is money voted to procure weapons for our army but looted by PDP?
“Dear @ARISEtv, what do you have to say about the role of Nduka Obaigbena and Reuben Abati in the looting of funds meant to equip our army?