July 4, 2008

It has come to the notice of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) that the Ogun State House of Assembly has barred the two media outfits in the state: Gateway television and Gateway Radio from covering the activities and sessions of the House.

BON condemns in very strong terms, this anti-democratic approach to the on-going crisis of confidence in the state’s polity and we view the resolution as not only dictatorial and a hang over of military mentality, it is also not helpful to confidence-building in Ogun State.

It is our considered view that even if the two media outfits have done anything to offend the sensibilities of the House, made of elected representatives of the good people of Ogun State, the House ought to have used civilized means to caution the organizations rather than resorting to unorthodox, arm-twisting and very unethical approaches which has the deeper consequence of depriving the electorate of Ogun State of the knowledge of happenings in the House of Assembly. The deliberate attempt by the House to bar coverage of its sessions in order to cover-up and sweep under the carpet certain suspicious shoddy deals.

At this time when all Nigerians should be vigilant in defence of democracy and democratic norms and principles, it is unfortunate that Ogun State House of Assembly is working with anti-democratic forces and threatening the time-cherished and well-respected norms of freedom of speech, accountability, and good governance anchored on openness in public discourse.

BON hereby urges the Ogun State House of Assembly to immediately and unconditionally lift the ban undemocratically slammed on the two media outfits and lodge any complaints of any wrong doing by the two media outfits with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulatory authority for broadcasters in Nigeria or BON as the professional umbrella body of all privately and publicly owned broadcast organizations in Nigeria.

BON hereby reiterates that the continued ban on the organizations from covering the proceedings of the House is not only illegal but a complete negation of the principles of democracy and due process and is against the spirit and letters of the Nigerian constitution which the members of the House have sworn to protect.

Signed