LAGOS – The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has accused the federal government of sliding towards despotism for ordering the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, to cancel a two-hour ‘Radio Link’ programme with Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola on Saturday.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party demanded a public apology from Minister of Information Labaran Maku, who reportedly issued the instructions cancelling the programme, which was long scheduled and paid for.

It also asked the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to immediately launch a probe into how a federally-funded media organisation can so wilfully deny access to any Nigerian, just because he is not a member of the ruling party.

ACN also said it would encourage the Osun State Government to head to court to challenge what is clearly an illegal act by the federal authorities, in addition to demanding huge damages for FRCN’s failure to honour a contractual agreement.

‘’The last time we checked, the opposition is still a part of Nigeria and the Action Congress of Nigeria is a Nigerian party. We are therefore concerned that a top member of the party and a state Governor for that matter can be denied access to a media organisation funded by tax payers. This is not just about FRCN but all federal government-owned media organisations and institutions.

‘’It is clear to us that the Minister of Information, who should understand and defend the basic tenets of federalism, has allowed crass partisanship to becloud his sense of propriety. It is even worse that the Minister worked for many years as a journalist before finding himself in government, which should make him to act always from an informed position.

‘’We are therefore demanding answers and seeking remedial actions for this shameful act on the part of the federal authorities,’’ ACN said.

The party said it would in particular like to know whether Mr. Maku’s actions are in anyway connected to the disagreement between Osun State and the federal authorities over the recent arrest of some ACN supporters from Osun by the police in Kogi State while on their way to Abuja.

‘’It is important to know whether the Minister’s action was informed by what he perceived as an unfriendly state, which must be punished for daring to challenge the mighty federal authorities in Abuja,’’ it said.

ACN wondered how the government of President Goodluck Jonathan can honestly seek a consensus on burning national issues, as he is reported to be planning to, when he is denying Nigerians access to federally-funded media to air their views simply because they are in opposition.