Gov Matawalle apologises for shutting down media outfits in Zamfara

Governor Bello Matawalle’s government has apologised for shutting down Gamji TV, Gamji FM, Al-umma TV, NTA, and Pride FM in Zamfara.

The government, in a statement by information commissioner Ibrahim Dosara alleged that the media organisations violated its Executive Order No 10 and abused journalism practice.

APC chieftain Abdullahi Shinkafi and chairman of the Zamfara State Committee on Prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences, however, handed an apology to the media outfits in a press conference in Gusau on Monday.

Mr Shinkafi said the government was angered by the alleged violation of the order, which came into effect on October 13, banning all forms of political rallies and meetings in the state due to security concerns, including the suspension of all political activities and the shutdown of Anka, Bukuyum and Gummi local government areas’ roads and other affected towns and villages.

Mr Shinkafi claimed that the media outlets violated the order by covering the “illegal political activity” of the PDP governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal-Dare, in Gusau on Saturday.

He said the “illegal political gathering” led to a security breach by some youths of the two political parties, saying, “The police had confirmed that one man was shot dead and 18 others injured during the event.”

The commissioner added that the government’s shutdown of the outlets attracted unprecedented reactions and criticisms from various quarters, including the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), among others, condemning the government’s action and called for immediate reversal.

The APC chieftain, however, insisted that Mr Matawalle’s action was guided by the powers vested in him as enshrined in relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to him, the government has since withdrawn the order given to the police commissioner to arrest and prosecute the media outlets’ personnel.

Mr Shinkafi also stated that the Zamfara government had withdrawn security forces deployed to the media outlets to allow their staff to resume work and urged them to respect the state laws and support the government in its effort to tackle bandits and kidnappers. 

(NAN)