Democracy Ambassadors of Nigeria (DAM)
29/31 Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja, Lagos
Telephone: 08023172694, 08034009224
PRESS STATEMENT
NDUKA OBAIGBENA, ARISE TV AND THISDAY NEWSPAPER ON AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY
It’s an indisputable fact that for a long time now that the Arise TV news network and it’s allied media organization are opposed to everything and anything that has to do with the Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari, his party the All Progressives Congress and the APC 2023 Presidential flagbearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and it is not a crime to be so fixated on such a negative mindset and view, so long as human sensibilities is not assaulted and the laws of the land is not breached in this regard.
It’s common knowledge by their daily show, that the owner of Arise TV and it’s anchors, especially the Morning show crew have refused to recover from the 2015 electoral loss of the Presidency by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and are sworn never to see anything good about the government and people of Nigeria which is within their right.
We make bold to state that there’s nothing wrong with individuals and organizations making their political choice known, it is within their democratic rights to do so but it must not be done in a way that makes a mockery of the known tenets of professionalism and objectivity embedded in any occupation or business.
But what we find repugnant, condescending, irresponsible and condemnable is the attempt by swindlers and congenital blackmailers attempting to pull wool over the people’s eyes by posturing to be what they never are and can ever be, based on their character of fraud and deceit to blackmail and extort as always.
However, we are gladdened that the Publicity and Public Affairs Department of the APC Presidential Campaign Council has eventually taken the fight to the doorsteps of the Arise news organization, though we are of the candid view that this reaction to irresponsible, provocative, cheap blackmail and guerrilla journalism is long overdue as the crew of Arise news & it’s sister’s media establishment have been given too much unfettered access to spew out false information, promote fake news, attack and deride not just the government of the day at the centre and individuals within the APC, but also debase and denigrate the tenets of journalism, democracy and ethos of civility and responsibility which is unacceptable.
It will be recalled that Arise news and it’s partners were major promoters of the 2020 ENDSARS insurrection, urging anarchists and criminals to attempt to topple a democratically elected government through a reign of terror by the attack and destruction of public utilities, private businesses, private homes and murder of innocent citizens and police officers, barracks, formations, stealing and looting of arms and ammunition from police armoury & setting free arrested and incarcerated criminals and suspects at police formations and correctional centres, looting and vandalism of eateries, supermarkets, shopping malls, banks ATM’s, warehouses, royal palaces, etc. Till date, Arise news and it’s partners have never criticized the perpetrators of the heinous crimes nor deemed it fit to tender a public apology for it’s incitement of insurrection against the government and people of Nigeria in general, not to mention it’s refusal to show sympathy to the government, families of slain and traumatized Nigerians, police officers and business owners who bore the brunt of the criminality of the 2020 EndSARS insurrection.
The way and manner this congenital blackmailer media stations derides and gloats over Nigeria’s security challenges by aways making a mountain out of the molehill of our military setbacks in the fight against terrorism and other crimes, leaves no one in doubt that this media organization is everything unpatriotic and never mean well for the good of the Nigerian people.
That Arise news morning show devotes at least a quarter of it’s time to mudslinging, abuse, spew fake news, incite the public, deride all government efforts, never acknowledge anything that government does right and most especially it’s unrelenting attack on the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, provokes the question, what does Arise TV and Thisday Newspaper really want?
Why are they unduly fixated on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is he the only presidential candidate contesting the 2023 presidential election, why do they only look for his flaws and mistakes, why the unrelent-less attack on this specially gifted human being, if it’s not about his age, it will be about his background where he schooled or not, his life trajectory that cut across Nigeria and the rest of the world or his over mouthed ‘health challenges’ without any verifiable proof whatsoever?
It is un-debatable today that no other candidate has shown capacity, capability, courage, character and readiness to hit the ground running like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team who have transversed every nooks and corners of Nigeria, Tinubu is the only Presidential candidate that has kept to every schedule of his campaign timetable, he has visited more states, held more stakeholders engagement, town hall meetings, rallies, etc both within and outside Nigeria, has consulted more widely and thus more acceptable to Nigerians than any other Presidential candidate.
It’s a shame that Arise news and Thisday Newspaper have thrown professionalism and decorum which is a critical tenet of journalism to the dogs and have turned itself to the mouth piece and campaign arm of everything and anyone that is running against Asiwaju Tinubu, they are never happy and obviously jealous of the achievement of the city boy, Jagaban Borgu which is unassailable.
The morning Show crew never question not caution anyone who spews lies and falsehood about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and are always very sad and dumb founded whenever any guest brings out unrefutable proof about the quality and positives of the presidential candidate of the APC.
No matter how hard Arise TV and it’s sister newspaper publication tries to blackmail Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the APC to dance to it’s tune of propaganda and extortion like it is noted for, it will fail yakata, Nigerians know better.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a brand whose time has come and no amount of blackmail and mudslinging can bring him down. The role of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria’s democratic struggle from the days of military despotism when he put his life on the line to birth our democracy that is being despoiled by the media conglomerate of a well known military apologist contractor, congenital blackmailer, extortionist, hustler and irredeemable debtor, is public knowledge and cannot be erased by lies, falsehood, misinformation, blackmail and incitement.
Till date, since his tenure as the civilian Governor of Lagos State from 1999-2007, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu tenure witnessed landmark achievements and many firsts which are solidly verifiable and built upon by successive administrations in the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu remains the issue of discourse in our political space and we are extremely proud and honoured to align with his footprints which are indelible in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The truth they must be told is that, they cannot erase the very obvious land marks of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which is indelible on the sand of time, we believe it is the time of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, Nigerian voters come February 2023 will troop out en masse to elect these dynamic and sagacious duo as the next Democratically elected President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nduka Obaigbena, Arise TV and Thisday Newspaper, no matter how hard they try, are on an exercise in futility and so shall it be.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely
Nelson Ekujumi, Deola Olayiwola
Convener Co-convener
