During the Arise TV morning show, the Nigerian journalist and presenter, Dr Reuben Abati, reacted to a statement released by the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s (PCC) Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and its Director of Strategic Communication, Mr. Dele Alake. According to the statement, Arise News media and journalists like Oseni Rufai and Dr. Reuben Abati were accused of using hate speech and being biased against the APC presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As regards this, Dr. Reuben Abati stated that if Tinubu wins the next election without granting local media space, it’ll be a return to military dictatorship. He further stated that they’re journalists who are free to ask any question, adding that any form of blackmail against them is undemocratic.
According to him,
“Anybody who aspires to be president of Nigeria must come to equity with clean hands.” When questions are raised, those questions must be answered, and the result is blackmail, which is undemocratic. If they’re saying their candidate cannot be criticised, if their candidate cannot be asked questions, if their candidate cannot be invited to a townhall because he wants to organise his own, then they’re trying to suggest that if their candidate wins, then the media will be surprised, and that will be a return to the era of military dictatorship.”
