It came in the news yesterday that the team of president-elect of the federal republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari bans the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his engagement until issues of ethics and standards are sorted out.


Today, the APC released a press statement by their national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed which states the AIT and other accredited media houses are free to cover the activities of General Muhammadu Buhari.


The earlier news had created some widespread speculations all over the country which led to some Nigerians questioning how democratic the action was. One of the many critics was a nairaland user with the moniker, Barcanista.


I must confess, "Press Freedom" and "Freedom of Speech" is very crucial for the growth of democracy anywhere in the world, infact it is the lifeblood of democracy. Freedom of Information is one of the factors that differenciate "Democracy" from "Autocracy".


As provided by the law, their are limitation to the Freedom of Press.
As a result, freedom of expression is not absolute and can be limited when it conflicts with other rights.
International law declares freedom of expression to be the rule. Limitations are the exception, permitted only to protect:
* the rights or reputations of others
* national security
* public order
* public health
* morals.


The African Independent Television (AIT) with their attacks on General Muhammadu Buhari breached the "Ethics and Standards of Journalism".

Journalism ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and of good practice as applicable to the specific challenges faced by journalists. Historically and currently, this subset of media ethics is widely known to journalists as their professional " code of ethics" or the "canons of journalism".


These are some of the principles in the "code of ethics" or "canons of journalism" and how the AIT violated them.

Principle of Truthfulness: Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with factor reality or fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. The commonly understood opposite of truth is falsehood, which, correspondingly, can also take on a logical, factual, or ethical meaning.
The AIT has violated this principle by broadcasting some hate documentaries against the likes of Buhari, Tinubu and Osinbajo. In Buhari's documentary, some of the false story cooked up there were:
1. Fela NEVER mentioned Buhari in $N2.8B scandal. He mentioned OBJ. AIT edited that part off.
2. Buhari did not expel Ghanians from Nigeria. Shagari of the NPN did. AIT made a FALSE assertion.
3. Gloria Okon did not disappear under Buhari it was under IBB and Dele Giwa was murdered for it.
4. Fela’s mother the GREAT Funmilayo Kuti died after OBJ Kalakuta in 1978 Buhari came into power in 1984.


Principle of Accuracy: Accuracy and precision are defined in terms of systematic and random errors. The more common definition associates accuracy with systematic errors and precision with random errors. Another definition, advanced by ISO, associates trueness with systematic errors and precision with random errors, and defines accuracy as the combination of both trueness and precision.
The AIT lacks accuracy in it hate broadcast against Buhari, the attack against him lack actual facts, some of whic where:
* Buhari did not expel Ghanians from Nigeria. Shagari of the NPN did. AIT made a FALSE assertion.
* Fela’s mother the GREAT Funmilayo Kuti died after OBJ Kalakuta in 1978 Buhari came into power in 1984.
* AIT alleged that Buhari has been losing since 1999. This is a lie. Buhari’s first shot was in 2003. In 1999 Chief Olu Falae of ANPP/AD contested against Obj.


Principle of Impartiality: Impartiality also called evenhandedness or fair-mindedness is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons.
It was clear to all sane Nigerians that AIT were partial and bias during the presidential campaign. They give out hate speech against the APC and were very friendly towards to ruling party, the PDP.


AIT also violated the principle of fairness by bringing in Buhari's late wife and his daughter into the broadcasted clips. It's an attack to personal liberty which a citizen is entitle to. AIT even went further by disobeying a court injunction which stopped them from broadcasting those documentaries.


AIT also breached the Priciples of Objectivity, Principles of Public accountablity, Principle of societal acceptance and Principle of moral conduct.


I can't really state the constitutional purnishment meant for the violation of this act, but I clearly understand the wise saying which says; "No offender goes unpurnished".

well then,, IMHO,, Iont think Buhari did the BEST thing.. if he has a thing against AIT,, there are more diplomatic ways to deal with em without soiling his reputation.. recall that this was the same man accused of shutting down freedom of the press during his military era.. inasmuch as the APC has re-packaged him and he himself became a self-confessed democrat,, this recent action of his only validates the claim of the media houses that he (GMB) cannot tolerate criticisms - which really isn't good for our democracy.. So,, on the one hand,, I'll say the president-elect needs to grow a tough skin and better get ready for a pretty rough ride with the press and e-Nigerians as a whole.. He needs to handle constructive criticisms more gracefully and also needs to tackle the destructive ones with a better touch of diplomacy.. Bruh,, this ain't no military shii,, you can't just order/decree anytime U want to suit Urself..
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And on the other hand,, I totally 'm in support of his decision.. Bruh,, AIT was evil all through the campaign period.. their campaign of calumny was unrivaled by any other media house.. they really stooped soooo low- they used his past to discredit him and even senselessly used his handling of his family affairs against him.. Dammit! They shyted on him real bad and messed up the memories of his late wife and child! That was bad.. So,, I see nothing wrong with Buhari saying ''OK guys.. I know U hate me,, I hate U too.. shebi ena de air evil documentary abt me back then,, why ena wan com de famz me now kwan?? Ena even do am sotey ena spite my wife and pikin,, abeg make ena stay ena lane and I go stay on my lane okwaya.. Msheew.. If covering 'live event' de hungry ena,, make ena follow Jona enter Otuoke begin cover hin fishing adventures and ogogoro drinking galore.. Osim freedom of press.. Make ena free me now and forever!''.. So serzly,, they hurt him real bad.. This isn't just about a man,, this is about going to the extreme just to tarnish a man's image... I prolly woulda done same if I was in his Nikes.. So those plônkers saying he's got no right to bar/ban em,, I say he's reacting to their initial attack.. Don't blame him,, blame the shameless AIT directors who threw moral caution to the wind and went berserk on him...
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Conclusively,, Iont cee no biggie in being the first to comment.. Like serzly,, what's with all the Nland hype on being the firstus commentus?? Shii's nothing to me.. Arrest Ma Case..

The appropriate thing for Buhari to do is to seek legal redress or petition the regulatory body. He has NO right to bar, ban or restrict AIT irrespective of how he feels about them. This is not a military regime.


Btw: Your APC party has reversed the order... Democracy wins!

Byebye..

Good one OP......Say the truth and it shall set you free....people should ask themselves why AIT did not also give us the reasons why we could not vote GEJ or other presidential candidate or was buhari the only bad fellow

barcanista:
The appropriate thing for Buhari to do is to seek legal redress or petition the regulatory body. He has NO right to bar, ban or restrict AIT irrespective of how he feels about them. This is not a military regime.


Btw: Your APC party has reversed the order... Democracy wins!

Byebye..

If you read well, it was clearly stated the APC had said AIT is free to cover buhari's activity.


I guess if you will justify yourself, the first thing in your article should condemn the act of AIT as I supported freedom of information in this.


Let me ask you also, does AIT have the right to deny one of his civic right? Does it have the right to condemn ones personality?

Hatred makes you attack GMB in a partial and bias manner, but you know what, he keep flying.

#Haters are liable to die young.

barcanista:
The appropriate thing for Buhari to do is to seek legal redress or petition the regulatory body. He has NO right to bar, ban or restrict AIT irrespective of how he feels about them. This is not a military regime.


Btw: Your APC party has reversed the order... Democracy wins!

Byebye..

Guy do you really understand different between banning and barring, it was only reported dat he disallowed dem from covering events relating to him which can still be seen as being private. And if I may ask, can you honestly tell me dat AIT was too fair with buhari during d campaign period dat dey even went further using d death of his wife and dat of one of his daughter to campaign against him? We are all human beings and don't know what tomorrow hold for us . I rest my case for now

Lalasticlala, Pls take this to front page.

Please halt the execution in Indonesia, take actions on the link below. Seun, Lalasticlala, pls move the thread on the link below to front page.
www.nairaland.com/2280900/urgent-action-stop-execution-indonesia

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I don get alert.... GodWin

AIT attacks on Buhari; a violation of ethics and standards of journalism!


mtchewwwwwwww............. shoro niyen?


Nobody is saying AIT did the right thing, what we are saying is that if AIT is guilty of any form of violation of ethics and standards of journalism, buhari should go to court. Let the court do the judgement. Buhari cannot double as the president-elect as well as the minister of justice.


To all the ignoramus saying buhari has a right to bar AIT from airing his activities; Be informed that immediately Buhari won the presidential elections, he lost a huge part of his privacy, he has now become a Nigerian property and lost the right to stop any local media from airing his activities.

Buhari is too soft on those guys if you ask me.
They even claimed he was the cause of his wife's death. Said Boko Haram would live comfortably side by side the Nigerian government should Buhari win (still have that disgusting clip in my phone. That "Nigeria is finished" advert).

I could never think anything nice of that station.

AIT... Sharing the African Akpuruka Experience

If I m Buhari, I ll suspend AIT for the numbers of days which they used to broadcast their hate propaganda.

Last Bullet
I ll sue them to court and see to it that they pay for damages concerning their scandalous libel cum destructive & fallacious propaganda.
It was just too much to bear.
They should be made scape goat!
If not that Nigerians really want Buhari, their damaging broadcasts could v ruined the man.
Meanwhile, mist of the stuffs in the broadcast were lies!

AIT is a disgrace to the noble profession of journalism in Nigeria, with their brand of "mercenary journalism".

A good brand was corrupted because of a pot of porridge.

Though the porridge might really be a tempting and sweet one, that is in billions.

When you are sent to deliver a message as a slave, while delivering it, you should deliver it with a virtue of free born.

Issorait

APC has a point though

Na so now..... Olosho
Dem liars....
Gibberish.

The AIT is even useless

I PITY AIT BECAUSE NOBODY CAN SAVE THEM FROM THE HARDSHIP THEY WILL FACE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, IN FACT I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO SURVIVE IT

How much is kuli kuli in your area

While some fools ( [b] some PDP supporters) think Buhari's action is a clamp down on press freedom, that is entirely a deliberate action at twisting the true state of things.
*AIT was not barred from going on their normal activities
*Was AIT shutdown by Buhari?? NO!!
*Was any staff of AIT arrested by Buhari's Security men?? Absolutely NO!!
*Does AIT deserve to be in the current mess they are in?? Absolutely YES!! Why?? AIT just some few months ago attacked Buhari in the most uncouth way, accusing him of killing his own wife!! , now that's a new level even President Jonathan has never experienced.
*Buhari's security men due to "intelligence" have realized that these set of fools do not deserve to get private information about Buhari's activities hence "barring" them from airing his activities, HOW IS THAT "BARRING OF THE PRESS"??

PDP will become a very useless opposition party if they continue like this, abeg make KOWA brace up to take over the role from them.

sue them when you get to Aso rock..and stop disturbing us with irrelevant stuffs...
e be like first one year of Apc govt will be 'witch-hunting'....kini concern me kwanu...

bright007:
shoro niyen?

When i pressed it on google that - shoro niyen, below are the results i found 1. Oro randan randan ni o 2. Eyin boys, e gba oju e 3. Afi suru 4. E ma da lebi 5. Owo jo na 6. Google tears *crying* lol

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OK...

Isorait