I hope this breaking news about Buhari and AIT is the handiwork of overzealous aides o. If it isn’t, that means:

Buhari 0 – AIT 1

Own goal by Buhari.

No, you cannot ban or prohibit or prevent a media group from covering your activities never mind the unethical, stomach-churning jackass that AIT has been. In a democracy, the worst you could do is tactically “freeze out” journalists and media groups making you uncomfortable. They still have the right to be there – and report things as they see it. If there are ethical breaches, there are appropriate institutions and channels to handle that.

Study the White House and her handling of these situations. Under George W. Bush, Fox News and all the rightwing lunatic media covering the White House flourished. Nobody banned “opposition media” from the White House ground or press room. The only catch? You had to be recognized before you could ask a question during press briefings. If you were MSNBC or “hostile media”, you spent years without being called upon to ask a question. If you crashed in a question, you were ignored. The legendary Helen Thomas had to scream out for help after being frozen out for years by President Bush.

Under Obama, the shoe is on the other leg. Nobody is banning or prohibiting extreme rightwing lunatic media from covering his activities, being present on the White House lawn or in the press room. Getting recognized to ask a question or having your question answered is the tough cut.

Of course, in a democracy, you are free to go and write what you want and scream to your heart’s content about being “frozen out”. You are free to throw all the red meat in the world to your base. That is your wahala.

Some are saying that GMB is president-elect and can still ban or prohibit… That is crap. The least said about that the better.

To fend off the feeding frenzy from citizens of the Republic of Sore Loserhood who have already pounced on this tragic step of the GMB camp, some Buharists are reminding them of Jonathan’s hounding of the media (which these hypocrites have of course quickly forgotten). That, I’m afraid, is also not a valid defense. That is bull crap.

The values of GEJ and the more hypocritical among his followers should not be your values. What they accepted from their man, what they rationalized, and explained away, the evils and travesties that they tolerated and justified again and again and again (and are still justifying in their woolly-headed post-election sore loserhood), is why we are here today. The higher ground for you, Buharist, is to set much higher standards for your principal and for yourself. Jonathan once did similar things is no excuse or justification for Buhari doing it. That is why we say we are change. Change must mean change from the ways of the past; the ways of Jonathan and his followers. Buhari will not be judged by his ability to photocopy the errors of GEJ. Buhari’s followers will not be judged by their ability to photocopy the herdish, nauseating, rationalizing impulses of puny career Jonathanians. That is how they and their Messiah took Nigeria to the doldrums.

Before his followers convinced GEJ that he was God and did not need to give a damn about you and I, he actually had begun to handle “hostile media” using the template in advanced democracies. That is how he finished us off at NEXT Newspaper – by far the best thing ever to have happened to the Nigerian print media sector in a long time. What Sahara Reporters was doing from New York, NEXT was doing right there in Nigeria. NEXT was very brave. They hired the very best. Investigative journalism acquired a brand new face in Nigeria. Dele Olojede and Amma Ogan are perfectionists. NEXT was a beautiful thing. I was part of the foundational cast of weekly op-ed columnists they hired.

Because of the primitive nature of our polity, no media organization really can survive without government patronage, without government advertisements. After a series of exposes on corruption in the oil sector, Goodluck Jonathan went on national TV and specifically mentioned NEXT as one newspaper that was trying to bring down his government and destroy his beloved Diezani. That was a death sentence. I wasn’t surprised when NEXT started to owe me salaries. Arrears piled up for those of us writing from abroad and for their regular staff and NEXT fell apart. Of course there is never just one explanation for the collapse of a dream. But the loss of advertisement and patronage was a significant, unsurvivable blow for NEXT. You really cannot survive the loss of government patronage in Nigeria.

Jonathan quietly froze out NEXT. No banning, no prohibition – the American model. By the time his followers convinced him that he had become God and his wife Jesus Christ, he abandoned this model and his government did hound some media houses.

You cannot use this as an excuse for the clampdown on AIT. It cannot be done in a democracy and Buhari MUST REVERSE that “ban” or “prohibition” or whatever it is called immediately. The watchword here is: change.

And thumbs down for his handlers. They never help the General’s propensity for own goals. AIT, like ThisDay, relies 100% on prebends and handouts from Abuja. Before GEJ rushed in bailout dollars to use them as the official media of his campaign, AIT had practically folded up and Dokpesi was owing several months salary arrears to his staff.

In fact, this is the time to be very nice to them. Give them prime position around GMB but quietly close the dollar patronage tap in Abuja. Very soon, Dokpesi will tell his correspondents and camera crew to use their own money to ride okada to cover activities at GMB’s house because the station is broke. AIT and ThisDay are built entirely on the Villa dollar tap. Close the tap quietly and they are finished. No need for harassment at all.

By Pius Adesanmi
Source

Don't you know the difference between "bar" and "ban"?

Na wa o for all these under the mango tree university graduates ooo.

So of all the things wey u see na Only her little error u fit highlight. Ur Badbelle don go Intl walahi. SuperStar1 u need Deliverance

hmmm

It is an away goal in UEFA champions league for Buhari.
Reasons: 1.Tinubu has a pending case in court in which he filed a suit demanding AIT to pay damage for character assassination. I guess this case is yet to be determined by the court.
2. Osinbajo had to seek a court injuction to stop a 'defamatory' documenary they almost aired in his name(thank God for the court).
3. AIT/NTA were the first to breach the abuja-accord by throwing away the ethics of journalism and going the full-length by airing that destructive documentary against the person of Buhari.
They went far as accusing Buhari supporters of hacking into their system when they organised a poll and saw that their preferred candidate was loosing.
How do you expect Buhari to lounge with them when they have not shown remorse for their actions and 'retracted' their false allegations against him?
Until the megascopic scarification crested on these individuals are defaced by an 'un-woven' apology, our subtle bile against them shall remain insitu.

And how many own goals did GEJ Score when he clamped down on the press, seized newspapers and arrested journalists?

https://www.nairaland.com/2123824/revealed-gej-clamps-down-press

For subjective news and reports people tune to AIT
For objective news, reports and analysis Channels tv all the way

Raymond dug the grave for his investment with his own hands

Its bar not ban. Its just a decision to freeze out ait frm covering his activities which he has a right to, he hasnt stopped them frm airing what they feel abt him. Its a way of punishing mediocrity, stupidity, impunity, no regard for rule of law people, nta case is understandable as it was in gej willpower, but ait just like channels or stv had the chance to play journalism with ethics and protect all sides and not give another excess priviledge but it did, the common man was bruised and raped its firm with the fg at their mercy. This is a signal to those who would rape our rule of law again

Hm.

olu77:
For subjective news and reports people tune to AIT
For objective news, reports and analysis Channels tv all the way

Raymond dug the grave for his investment with his own hands

DOKPESI was aiming to become the next chief of staff if gej wins, so he ended up using the explosives on himself.
Imagine the Dokpesi tagged a mastermind of october 1st bombing at e-square in 2010 by gej's hawks coming ouu in full 'throttle' against gej's opponents in 2015.

superstar1:
Don't you know the difference between "bar" and "ban"?

Na wa o for all these under the mango tree university graduates ooo.

Dude, that was more of a 'bar' than a 'ban'.
Why are you attacking blindly?

On the subject matter, Fayose and Co. who openly voiced out their aversion to Buhari's administration would also get the heavy hand if this is the proposed modus operandi??
Buhari'd best be careful lest he begins to re-awaken the dreads of his dictatorship spirit in a democratic environment.
The reasons there are the legislative and judiciary is to check the powers of the executive. He must tread with caution.

For Now he is right to keep confidentiality. He hasn't been sworn in yet. The media sud be focusing their flashlight on the transitional process to ensure looting is curbed.

.

I am a Buhari Supporter but I think and know he got this one really wrong.

I am a Buhari Supporter but I think and know he got this one really wrong. He is already tinkling with the freedom of the media even before being sworn in ..This action shows that Buhari is will not stomach criticisms of his govt by the press.

superstar1:
Don't you know the difference between "bar" and "ban"?

Na wa o for all these under the mango tree university graduates ooo.

Did you even pause to read the article first?

I don't why y'all are acting like Buhari did something new. That's his nature. The hateful part of him he's successfully hidden while screaming "Change" all these while.

It's nothing new. He issued the Decree 4 to stifle the press back in his autocratic days, now, he's using another means to block medias that don't lick his azz. Same old wine, in a new wine (party). A leopard can't change its spots.