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Media Houses Rejects NBC Order To Refrain From Airing Activities of Terrorists

Nigerian media houses have vowed not to succumb to intimidation from any quarters as they insist that they will not obey the directive of the Federal Government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), asking them not to give details of the activities of insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers, in their reports.

This was in reaction to a letter issued by the NBC to radio and television houses in the country, asking them to be cautious in their reporting of issues bothering on insecurity in the country.

The umbrella body for media houses in the country had in a letter titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, which was dated July 7, 2021, directed them to stop “glamorizing the nefarious activities of insurgents”.

This was pointed at the newspaper reviews done by most radio and television stations in the mornings where they give a rundown of newspaper headlines which carry mostly news from the previous day and sometimes invite analysts to come and throw more insight to the stories.

The letter which was signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah, read in parts:

“Headlines of most newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.

“The commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by;

“Not glamorizing the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc.

“Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.

“Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.”

In response however, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mustapha Isah, has given a robust response to the Federal Government, making it clear that media houses in the country will not abide by the directive, adding that they don’t create news, they only report them.

Read Also: Twitter Outburst: Presidency Claims Nigeria Needs To Be Ruled By A Dictator

He noted that the Presidency has always indicated eagerness to gag the Nigerian press with the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, hounding the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act.

They advised the Buhari-led administration to focus on fixing the security situation in the country rather than seek ways to suppress free press in the country.

According to Isah:

“The NBC said broadcast stations should not glamorize terrorist activities which I agree with but I have a problem with the issue of ‘don’t report details of attack’. I don’t know what the NBC mean by that. If there is an attack and certain people die, are you saying that I should not report it? If there is an attack and 20 students are kidnapped, are you saying that broadcast platforms should not report the number?

“I have not seen any media house report details of a planned operation by the military on bandits and terrorists. The media does not do that for security purposes and I don’t think we will ever do that.

“The government cannot tell us how to do how report. This is why we are clearly against the Nigeria Press Council Act.

“The media does not create events; we report events. If there is a terrorist attack, we will report it. In fact, if we don’t report it, that means we are not doing our job. We will not stop doing that, we will not stop reporting events despite the threats.”

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One Half Of The Estranged Duo P-Square Declares Nov 30 as his new birthday

Mr P has officially moved his birthday celebration from November 18 to November 30, adding a new layer to the ongoing P-Square family feud. What began as a social media declaration has now been formalised. A few hours after announcing his intention to change his birthday date, Peter Okoye, known professionally as Mr P, has issued an open letter confirming that November 18, the date he has shared with his twin brother Paul Okoye since birth in 1981, is no longer his day of celebration.

“Dear Family, Friends, and Fans,” the post read. “I’m making it official. November 18th is no longer my birthday celebration date. Please note that I will not be accepting any messages or gifts on that day. My birthday will now be celebrated on November 30th. This is a personal decision, and I truly appreciate your understanding.”

The message is brief, but its implications are quite clear. November 18 has long been one of the last remaining public symbols of a shared identity between two brothers whose professional and personal relationship has deteriorated sharply over the past several years.

By formally reassigning the date, Peter is drawing a line that goes beyond creative differences or business disputes.

The reaction from Nigerians online has been largely sceptical.

Many have questioned the necessity of the gesture, with a significant number describing it as petty and unnecessary given the more substantive issues that have defined the brothers’ current estrangement.

The consensus among critics is that changing a birthday date does little to resolve any of the actual grievances and serves mainly as a public statement of severance.

The feud between Peter and Paul Okoye has now spanned multiple years, two official splits, a brief reunion, and a growing list of public accusations on both sides. November 30 is still months away. To see if the gesture will land as true liberation or just pettiness may depend entirely on where things stand by then.

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I Took Over From Myself’: Tinubu’s Claims that He and Buhari Are ‘One’

President Bola Tinubu addressed supporters on Wednesday night in a video that was equal parts pep talk and provocation, but it was one particular line that cut through everything else and set social media alight.

Speaking to the leadership and coordinators of his Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tinubu pushed back against the criticism that his administration inherited and worsened an already broken economy.

His defence took an unexpected turn. “This economy, I didn’t have to look back because the truth is, I took over from myself,” he said. “The late Buhari is me, he was a partner, if I took over from him, is that not from myself? So, it’s wrong? Fine. Live with it, correct it, move on.

Nigerians online did not move on, at least not immediately. The comment, which appeared to collapse the distinction between his administration and Muhammadu Buhari’s, drew a flood of reactions ranging from genuine bewilderment to sharp mockery.

For critics who have spent two years arguing that Tinubu’s government is a continuation of the same policies that drove Nigeria into economic hardship, the president had essentially handed them their argument in his own words.

The broader address, shared to his official page at 10:38 pm alongside a roughly ten-minute video, was deliberately combative.

Tinubu took aim at the opposition, dismissing the recently held ADC convention as “a street convention” and its energy as mere “rascality.”

He warned that his government would not yield to noise or disobedience of court orders, while also promising supporters that standing with him would not be a decision they would regret.

At one point, he told the ambassadors, “That is why we have told you to renew their hope”, drawing laughter from the audience. He added that for those unwilling to embrace the hope on offer, they would simply provide “eyeglasses.” It was the kind of line that plays well in a room full of loyalists and poorly everywhere else.

The overall message he tried to convey was that he would not be retreating, would not be apologising, and was not particularly interested in critics.

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S.A Opposition leader Julius Malema sentenced to five years in prison over gun incident

A South African court has sentenced opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in prison after finding him guilty of illegally firing a rifle during a political rally, a ruling that could shake the country’s opposition politics.

Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was convicted on several firearm-related charges linked to a 2018 party rally in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, where he was filmed firing a semi-automatic rifle into the air in front of thousands of supporters.

The court found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, and reckless endangerment, offences that prosecutors argued posed a serious public safety risk.

During sentencing, the magistrate emphasised that public figures must respect the law and warned that celebratory gunfire could endanger lives. Prosecutors had pushed for a maximum 15-year sentence, arguing that leniency would set a dangerous precedent given Malema’s influence as a national political figure.

Malema’s legal team, however, argued that the act was symbolic and caused no harm, urging the court to impose a fine instead of prison time.

The outspoken politician has already vowed to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, insisting the case is politically motivated. If the sentence is upheld, the ruling could have major political consequences. Under South African law, a prison sentence exceeding 12 months without the option of a fine can disqualify a lawmaker from holding a parliamentary seat, potentially forcing Malema out of the National Assembly.

Malema, a former youth leader of the African National Congress before founding the EFF in 2013, has built a reputation as one of South Africa’s most controversial political figures. His party campaigns for radical economic reforms, including land redistribution without compensation and nationalisation of key industries.

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