Politics of TAO FM, An Indication That GYB Is a Mere Political ‘Paper-Weight’

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The unnecessarily charged political atmosphere in the central senatorial district of Kogi state and the ugly scenes that has characterised the campaigns, ranging from disruptions of political rallies, unleashing mayhem at opposition’s empowerment programmes and attacks on campaign tours, to some other none palatable incidence that cannot be described as healthy enough in a democratic setting should be a source of worry and concern to every sane anebira.

The multi-party democracy which Nigeria currently practises and off course the 1999 constitution guarantees, allows and empowers every Nigerian of freedom to vote and be voted under any of the political parties available without been harassed, intimidated or coerced in any form. Although our capacity to play by the rules and conduct ourselves rightly as we navigate through the electioneering process of peaceful campaigns, orderly vote casting and declaration of election results in a rancour-free atmosphere have been tested since Nigeria returned to democratic rule more than nineteen years ago.

Like other parts of Nigeria, the central district of Kogi state has had its fair share of political violence and unrests which dated back to the era of late Alhaji Adamu Atta, the first executive governor of old Kwara state and his political rival, late Alhaji Abatemi, a former deputy governor in the old Kwara where the present day Kogi was carved out. The political tension between loyalists of late senator AT Ahmed and Dr Faruk Abdulaziz, and the political unrest and violence that ensued in the aftermath of the 2007 gubernatorial election in which senator Abdulsalam Ohiare and the proponents of “ebira agenda” lost out at the gubernatorial election also readily comes to mind.

Given the number of lives lost and the magnitude of properties that have been destroyed due to politically motivated violence in Ebiraland in the past, it is sad that we have learnt nothing as a people from the consequences of the political violence, bitterness, animosity and acrimony of the past which unfortunately are back in our politics today.

It is said that a people who refuses to learn from history are bound to relive it, one would have expected that since we now have an executive governor of Ebira extraction at the helm of affairs of the state, that should instil some level of decorum and tranquillity in our politics but, sadly, it is the governor who should call the political actors to order that is actually fanning the embers of unrest through his army of miscreants, hoodlums, hooligans and semi-literate appointees.

It is sad that the people saddled and entrusted with the responsibility to advance peace are now the ones encouraging their supporters to be chanting war songs, carrying out politically motivated disturbances and affronts in ebiraland, all in their bid and desperation to give a false impression that GYB is politically strong and fully in charge of his home.

Although the shutting down of Tao FM, a private radio station located in ebiraland has been uncleverly linked to tax evasion with the Kogi state internal revenue service KIRS which was horridly directed to close down the only functional radio station in the central senatorial district of Kogi state even without any evidence of prior notice on the FM station, the political intrigues and highhandedness that actually led to the shutting down of the station is to say the least unfortunate.

The series of events which culminated into the sealing off of Tao FM is a pointer to the fact that GYB is not only losing political relevance but his popularity is nose diving as well.

The last two years of GYB’s administration has been a clear case scenario of a mere political ‘paper-weight’ desperately trying hard to impress and prove to the public what a political ‘heavy-weight’ he has become.

Even if Tao FM were state government owned, the national broadcasting code reeled out by the broadcasting organisation of Nigeria BON clearly states and provides that all political parties and their candidates be given equal treatment and a level playing ground as regards airing sponsored political adverts, shows and jingles with serious sanctions awaiting any defaulting media station. The fact that GYB through his agents had to go to the length of preventing and prevailing on a private radio station to reject sponsored adverts and jingles belonging to the opposition political parties only indicates how scared he is and has further exposed his level of political intolerance and immaturity.

It is evidently clear that GYB is scared of the impending defeat of his anointed and handpicked APC candidates even in ebiraland or should we conclude that it is the skyrocketing popularity of the senatorial candidate of the SDP, Barrister Natasha HadizaAkpoti which could lead to the defeat of the APC candidate, Mr Oseni Yakubu if elections are conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner that is giving him and his hooligan supporters sleepless nights?

My advice to our dear governor is to be careful not to return ebiraland to the ugly past of political thuggery, character assassination and acrimony. GYB should as a matter of urgency call his loyalists, supporters and appointees to order because the war songs they are busy singing may end up consuming their master.

It is never too late for our dear governor to work on his battered image and dwindling popularity in Kogi central and the state at large. It is high time GYB evaluated his appointees and people around him with the aim of weeding out the miscreants, hooligans, thugs and overzealous appointees who have done so much damage to his image. Failure to do this needful will not only result in the governor being humiliated right in his home, he also risks being humiliated at the governorship election that will hold later this year.

A word is enough for the wise.

#LetCommonSensePrevail

– Hussain Obaro
oseniobaro@yahoo.com


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