Freedom Of Speech Should Be Guaranteed, You Can't Gag The Press, NBC Not Your Commissioner For Information Has The Right To Sanction: Adeniyi Chides Adeleke . Osun Governor’s Threat To Radio Stations Is A Dangerous Attack On Democracy

*ILA-ORANGUN— 16/06/2025*  

The recent threat by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to sanction radio stations over alleged “breach of broadcasting codes” is a blatant, unconstitutional assault on press freedom and a desperate attempt to suppress dissent in the wake of his illegal local government power grab. This action, directing the Commissioner for Information to summon radio stations and warning of sanctions—is not just hypocritical but a gross violation of Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), not a partisan state official, holds the statutory mandate to regulate broadcast content. Governor Adeleke’s move reeks of political intimidation aimed at silencing critics of his administration’s treasonable disregard for the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating democratically elected LG officials .  

I. THE GOVERNOR’S HYPOCRISY AND POLITICAL MOTIVATION  

Governor Adeleke’s sudden concern for “broadcasting ethics” is laughably inconsistent. His administration has *routinely weaponized state-owned media* like the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) to launch vicious attacks on opposition figures, without any pretence of “fair hearing.” Recall how OSBC promoted the fraudulent CBEX Ponzi scheme in 2025, branded as “poverty alleviation”, which defrauded countless citizens. While OSBC later sanctioned the presenter, the station’s history of unethical broadcasting was conspicuously ignored by the Governor . Now, when private radio stations dare to platform voices critical of Adeleke’s illegal LG caretaker committees and sham elections, he invokes “broadcasting codes” as a cudgel. This is not about ethics, it is about muffling scrutiny of his power grab, which the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, rightly condemned as “treasonable” .  

II. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL OVERREACH  

1. *NBC’s Exclusive Mandate*: The NBC Act vests regulatory authority solely in the federal commission. Governor Adeleke has zero legal grounds to order state-level sanctions or summon radio managers. His directive to the Commissioner for Information is an unlawful usurpation of federal authority .  

2. *Suppression of Judicial Accountability*: The Governor’s fury stems from radio discussions on the Court of Appeal’s reinstatement of elected LG officials, a ruling he flagrantly violated by proceeding with PDP-centric elections. His threat aims to criminalize public debate on this judicial defiance, which even the House of Representatives deemed worthy of intervention .  

3. *Selective Enforcement*: While the Governor feigns outrage over “incitement,” his allies have exploited state-owned airwaves for years to demonize opponents. OSBC’s propagandistic broadcasts, funded by alleged Adeleke’s N1.2 billion equipment splurge, never triggered his concern for “broadcasting codes” .  

III. A CALL TO ACTION: RESISTING TYRANNY  

I urge every radio station in Osun, to *reject this intimidation holistically*. Do not attend the Commissioner’s summons. Instead:  

- *Invoke the NBC’s authority*: Demand that any grievances undergo due process via the NBC, not partisan state actors.  

- *Amplify silenced voices*: Double down on platforms for opposition figures, victims of LG disruptions, and legal experts analyzing Adeleke’s constitutional breaches.  

- *Document threats*: Report coercion to international press freedom bodies like Reporters Without Borders.  

The Governor’s panic over “LG allocations” (as he cynically quipped) exposes his fragility. Having lost in court and the court of public opinion, he now seeks to gag the media. Osun’s people and press must stand firm: *Adeleke’s assault on free speech must drown in the thunder of our collective resistance.*

*HON. ADENIYI ISMAIL OLUWATOSIN*