From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Owner of JKD Television and Hamada Radio Networks, Yusufu Mamman, has kicked against the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN)’s threat to boycott Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s media engagements unless he apologises for his controversial comment.
IBAN, led by Ahmed Ramalan, demanded Wike retract the remarks and apologise publicly, threatening to boycott his media engagements otherwise. Wike through his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka clarified the comments were figurative and not meant to harm, fueling backlash from the Nigerian Union of Journalists and IBAN.
As a major broadcast player with one TV station and four radio stations, Mamman, who does not operate under IBAN, dismissed the group’s statement as the personal opinion of its chairman, Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan—an “impostor” with no broadcasting credentials or authority to speak for station owners. He urged Wike to ignore it entirely, noting the minister had already clarified his remarks.
He said: “My attention has been drawn to an organisation called IBAN led by one “Dr” Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, speaking for and Independent Broadcasters threatening to boycott media briefing by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, unless he makes public apology in respect of his recent banters with Channels Television Anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.
“The position of so-called IBAN is at best, an opinion of Mr Ramalan, who was never a broadcaster and had no idea of laws, norms, etiquette or professional broadcasting codes.
“Most importantly, Mr Ramalan has constituted himself into a fighting vehicle in courts against many broadcasting organisations and the National Broadcasting Commission.
“Therefore, I urge the Minister to ignore his ranting.
“This is more so that on the live television programme, the Minister took time to clarify what he meant and his Spokesperson also issued a statement saying categorically that the Minister’s comment was figurative and didn’t mean any harm.”
The post JKD TV, Hamada Radio owner slams IBAN’s Wike boycott threat as impostor rant appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
