Some owners of television and radio stations have distanced themselves from a recent statement issued by the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN), which threatened to boycott media engagements involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The association had called for a boycott unless the Minister retracts his remarks concerning Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television and issues a public apology.
However, Chairman and owner of Hausa-speaking television station JKD (DSTV Channel 391) and Hamada Radio Networks, Ambassador Yusufu Mamman, dismissed the IBAN position, urging stakeholders to disregard it.
Mamman described the IBAN Chairman, Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, as an impostor who lacks the authority to represent broadcast station owners.
According to him, the statement attributed to IBAN reflects only the personal opinion of Ramalan and does not represent the views of key industry players.
“As a major stakeholder in the broadcast industry, operating a television station and four radio stations, I am not a member of IBAN and will not join in amplifying an issue that has already been clarified by the Minister,” Mamman said.
He further criticized Ramalan, alleging that he is not a broadcaster and lacks understanding of professional broadcasting standards, laws, and ethics.
Mamman also claimed that Ramalan has been involved in legal disputes against several broadcasting organizations and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), questioning his credibility to speak on behalf of the industry.
He urged the FCT Minister to ignore the calls for a boycott, noting that Wike had already clarified his remarks during a live television appearance, while his spokesperson also issued a statement explaining that the comments were figurative and not intended to cause harm.
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