BY DAPO AKINREFON
Akure—THE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has accused the State Government of stifling the opposition in the state.

The party expressed displeasure over the stoppage of the Oja-Oro radio programme aired on Adaba FM.

But in a swift reaction, Governor Segun Mimko’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi described the allegations leveled against the government as “unfounded and untrue.”

Olabisi stated that, “the allegations bothered on fear by the opposition party. They have been clamouring for elections into the local government councils and the governor has started the process that would lead to free poll and all of a sudden, they have become jittery.”

At a briefing in Lagos yesterday, chairman of ACN in Ondo State, Mrs. Olajumoke Anifowoshe said: “The recent stoppage of Oja-Oro, a popular radio programme on Adaba FM brings back to memory what used to happen in the dark days of military dictatorship in Nigeria. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right of all citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

“It was therefore a surprise that early in August, the General Manager of Adaba FM was summoned by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and warned against the continued use of his platform for ACN programmes, which were viewed by the administration as being anti-government. Consequently, the NBC issued a letter dated August 19, ordering the discontinuation of Oja-Oro programme on Adaba FM.”

She said the action negated Section 312 of the NBC code adding that such move was “preposterous, if not absolutely ridiculous.”

On the composition of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, the party boss said “the lists of ODSIEC members and the caretaker members of the local government were sent to the House of Assembly on Monday, August 29, while the Local Government Area caretaker members were sworn in on the same day. This was done without regard to the extant court cases at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal in respect of these matters. All this go to show that there is no length to which Governor Mimiko will not got to breach the rule of law.”

Government debunks allegation

Olabisi, in a statement said “the allegations are unfounded and untrue. In the first place, it is a mere subterfuge and one meant to score cheap political points. Governor Mimiko is not the owner of Adaba Station and therefore could not have stopped any programme on the station. The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, ordered the stoppage of a particular offensive programme out to incite the people of the state. It was very offensive and slanderous. We have nothing to do with it and they know and are merely trying to play a fast one. As firm believers in freedom of speech and expression, we gave vents to everybody on the state-owned radio and television stations, a sharp contrast to what was the situation in the state before we came on board.”

On the issue of the ODIEC, the governor’s spokesman explained that “what we did was legal and the members were properly constituted and the Chairman, Dr Olugbenga Ige is an academic of no mean repute and he is eminently qualified. But if they feel a breach of the Constitution has been committed, they are free to go to court.

He, however, urged the people of Ondo state not to be swayed by the antics of the party saying “in sum, the whole allegations bothered on fear by the opposition party.

They have been clamouring for elections into the local government councils and the governor has kick start the process that would lead to a free poll and all of sudden, they become jittery. They are better ignored.”