Tinubu's spokesperson blasts Atiku for condemning NBC's order to news outlets

Otega Ogra, a Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has spoken out against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's response to a recent National Broadcasting Commission directive, which cautioned broadcast stations to adhere to the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

n

The NBC's statement, released on Saturday, emphasized the importance of fairness, balance, accuracy, and avoiding hate speech and incitement, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, and warned that it would strictly enforce compliance with its regulations.

n

The commission's warning prompted Atiku to accuse the regulator of attempting to restrict media freedom and impose undue regulatory constraints, especially during election periods.

n

In a counterstatement posted on X on Sunday, Ogra challenged Atiku's stance, drawing comparisons with a similar directive issued during the 2007 elections when Atiku was in office.

n

Ogra questioned whether Atiku was implying that a similar NBC warning issued on January 17, 2007, was an attempt by his administration to unfairly silence the opposition, and asked if Atiku was now projecting his own past thoughts onto the current situation.

n

The presidential aide argued that Atiku failed to recognize the distinction between a regulator performing its duties and overstepping its bounds, stating that Atiku should be able to understand this difference given his desire to lead the country again.

n

Ogra also criticized Atiku's role in Nigeria's privatisation programme, citing poor outcomes at entities such as NITEL, Nigeria Airways, and the Ajaokuta Steel Company, and suggested that Atiku's actions as Chairman of the Nigeria Council on Privatisation had led to widespread failures.

n

Ogra concluded by advising Atiku to review the content written on his behalf by his handlers, implying that they may not be accurately representing his views.