Anger as NBC threatens to sanction Channels TV over Ortom’s interview

Nigerians  have expressed their anger over the National Broadcast Commission’s invitation of Channels Television presenters over interviews perceived as unpalatable to the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Information has it that the invitation is connected with the interview they had with the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom on Sunrise, a morning show on the channel.

During the interview, Governor Samuel Ortom lambasted the Federal Government over open grazing and described Buhari’s directive on the review of grazing reserves across the country as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Governor express shock at the level misinformation and unconstitutional conducts by the presidency. Ortom also  accused Buhari of trying to “Fulanise” and “Islamise” Nigeria.

These views immediately generated anger from the presidency, who accused the Governor of inciting violence and dividing the good people of Nigeria.

However, the television station clarified that the presenters of the Channels TV Sunrise Daily show, Chamberlain Usoh, and Kayode Okikiolu, were not arrested.

But, “The entire anchors were invited for a meeting by the National Broadcasting Commission in Abuja and they have since returned from that meeting,” the television station said.

In a letter signed by NBC’s director-general, and dated August 24, the NBC threatened to sanction Channels TV, claiming it violated six of its codes during the broadcast of the interview.

The letter noted that Ortom’s interview “negates the provisions of the Nigeria broadcasting code. Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”