“Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad” Nigerians in dismay took to social media to protest the unfortunate incident which took place in Lafia, Nasarawa State yesterday. A newly established radio station, Breeze 99.9 FM was demolished by the Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB) barely 14hours after issuing notice, a development which a top official of the agency claimed was a directive from above.
The only private owed radio station in the state capital is housed in the award-winning NACWYCA centre, also an NGO founded by the media house owner, Dr Nawani Aboki, a renowned philanthropist and former gubernatorial candidate of the opposition Labour Party.
Before its demolition on Saturday 20th May, 2017, the seven-year-old building had a week ago marked by NUDB “Show Your Approval”, generating mixed reactions and echoing the past “witch-hunting” experience of the incumbent governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura during the era of the immediate past administration of Dr Aliyu Akwe Doma, where people stood doggedly behind him against the state government and prevailed.
Today, the privileged but ungrateful Al-Makura whose actions over the years earned him the title “Chief Priest”, for reducing the state to a sort of shrine, is at the helm of affairs, as governor. Regrettably, since he assumed the office in 2011, the Chief Priest has brought more shame instead to the exalted seat, with defunct G6 of the 5th NSHA describing him in April 2016 as “one having penchant for breaking laws.
“Like Idi Amin, Al-Makura is typical”, a young Nigerian recently posited. Common workers’ salaries has become a big issue under Al-Makura, but not his state-financed flamboyant lifestyle and that of his families and cronies. Nasarawa’s treasury has become Al-Makura’s customised ATM. It’s on record, Nasarawa has the lowest workforce and wage bill compare to other states. In fact, even the workforce and wage-bill of the FCT is higher than that of Nasarawa, which over 40% of its workers are mere casual, and not properly captured in the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s introduced minimum which was constitutionally enforced across the Nigerian states.
Available record shows that the huge amount of funds allocated to the governor as “security vote” monthly can pay the salaries of over 30% of Nasarawa’s workers. As at 2014, the state workforce was 17,600, which rose to over 18,000, yet this is the same administration which claimed to have cleared hundreds of “ghost workers”. No exact estimate for this year, but it is presumed to be approximately 19,000.
On the demolition of Breeze 99.9 FM, state government claimed the owner violated the terms of agreement, adding that the land was issued for residential purpose, not business(s). However the said structure that was demolished also host an award-winning NGO, National Center For Women Youth And Community Action (NACWYCA) located along Shendam Road, opposite Ministry of Justice, Lafia, Nasarawa state.
Reacting to the development, NUJ Nasarawa, described the action carried out by the state government, as “an assault on the media and threat to freedom of the press in the state.’’
NUJ declared that the haste with which NUDB demolished the radio station, made it clear that the government took the action to gag journalists in the state from carrying out their legitimate duties.
Meanwhile, the role of the media especially radio station cannot be over-emphasised. “In many new democracies, radio has become the medium of choice, as it is less expensive and more accessible. FM and community like the breeze FM station owned by Dr Nawani Aboki has boasted information dissemination in clear local languages and has never been in the fore front of criticizing Al-Makura led-administration, therefore have been effective instruments for promoting grassroots democracy by airing local issues, providing an alternative source of information to official channels, and reflecting ethnic and linguistic diversity.
The media can also help build peace and social consensus, without which democracy is threatened. The media can provide warring groups mechanisms for mediation, representation and voice so they can settle their differences peacefully,” says Sunday Labaran Abimiku.
Unfortunately, Al-Makura led state government fanned the flames of discord by feeling guilty of some sorts due to the kinds of hates for the oppositions. He is doing everything using the instrumentality of government to undermine private media and frontline opposition figures for his selfish reasons.
The mass media are often referred to as the fourth branch of government because of the power they wield and the oversight function they exercise. The media’s key role in democratic governance has been recognized since the late 17th century, and remains a fundamental principle of modern-day democratic theory and practice.
By this very act, Al-Makura hope for winning senatorial seat come 2019 is bleak and call for every rational thinking electorate to think twice before voting a mediocrity into a position of law-making. Indeed Al-Makura has sealed his senatorial dream failure!!!
