Outgoing senators Shehu Sani (PRP,Kaduna Central) and Ben Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa East) have condemned the withdrawal of licenses of African Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The senators took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction over the action of the government.
“The suspension of @AIT_Online is an utterly condemnable act.The suspension is politically motivated.Its an act of ingratitude & treachery to strangulate the very media outlet that has played a pivotal role in the struggle for the restoration and defense of democracy” Sani said.
Bruce tweeted, “I stand for #PressFreedom. If the press isn’t free, it means Government therefore possesses more power over her citizens than it needs to have. #AITUnderSiege”
Also the founder of Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Atedo Peterside accused the government of destroying private businesses.
“Closure of AIT signifies dark days ahead. Our right to free speech is next. Regulators now competing to consciously destroy businesses and jobs on flimsy grounds” he wrote.
A former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reno Omokri said the government was emboldened by what he described as the silence of people like the general overseer of the Deeper Bible Church, William Kumuyi.
“This act of aggression against @AIT_Online is only possible because men of God, Like Pastor Kumuyi, refuse to speak and instead ask those who will speak not to “attack” a government that attacks our liberty. That is how they kept quiet under Abacha #ReturnToDictatorshipInNigeria” he said.
