The Zamfara State PDP Governorship Candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal has said ‘Press Freedom is under assault in Zamfara,’ criticizing the decision of the Matawalle led government for unlawfully targeting to victimize media stations in the state for covering a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) event.
Lawal, in a statement on by his Media office in Gusau, Sunday night, berated the Matawalle led government, stressing that the Governor’s desperation manifested itself in a ‘draconian style’.
Recall, the Zamfara state government in a statement on Saturday, by the state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara ordered the shutting down of Federal Government and private owned Media stations; namely Radio Nigeria, Pride FM Gusau, NTA Gusau, Gamji Television, Vision FM, and Al’umma TV.
The statement read in parts: “It is with great dismay that we condemn the unlawful action of Zamfara state government aimed at stifling freedom of the press. It is very unfortunate, to say the least.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal is using this medium to strongly condemn Governor Matawalle’s order to shut down some selected Federal Government and private owned Media stations in the state.
“This is a draconian style applied to gag press freedom simply for covering opposition parties’ political activities in compliance with the NBC Act and Electoral act as amended 2022.
“The NBC Act and Electoral act as amended 2022 has obliged all broadcast stations to give equal access to political parties in the build up to the 2023 general election. This singular action of Governor Matawalle has exposed the type of liability Zamfara State is saddled with as Governor, a Governor who is ignorant of the laws of our land is a further confirmation to all and sundry that indeed Zamfara State is on autopilot.
“We are delighted that in a statement issued today, The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has faulted the APC led government of Zamfara State for arbitrarily closing the media stations.
“NBC has further warned the state government of the gravity of the illegality and requested it to expeditiously reverse the directive and apologize to the people of the state.
“Zamfara State APC and Governor Matawalle should understand that broadcast stations are regulated by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) while campaign and election activities are regulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has given the approval on October 12th for governorship campaigns to commence.
“For us in the PDP, it is not surprising that Gov. Bello Matawalle is not aware of the limits of his powers and doesn’t understand the function of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). A Governor who paraded falsified academic records as a constitutional requirement for public office couldn’t have behaved otherwise.”
The Dauda Lawal Media office further stressed the importance of press freedom in ensuring free and fair elections and protection of citizen rights and freedom. “Above all the press serves as watchdog on power. Governor Matawalle’s attempts to throttle the independence of the press will be resisted by all men and women of good conscience” the statement concluded.
