Press Freedom: Kano bans live political programs on media platforms

Kano State Government has banned live political programs across media stations to prevent the spread of inflammatory content.

Also, the government announced that presenters are also banned from asking provocative questions or making suggestive gestures that could lead to statements capable of defaming individuals or damaging the image of Kano State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Director Special Duties, Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Sani Abba Yola, on Wednesday.

The statement said the decisions were adopted by the heads of broadcast media organisations in the state at a quarterly meeting, convened by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya.

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It noted that anyone appearing on media platforms for interviews must sign an undertaking to refrain from making abusive, defamatory, or culturally offensive remarks.

According to the statement, the quarterly meeting, convened by the Ministry of Information, aims to strengthen understanding and cooperation between media organisations and the government, in order to ensure effective information dissemination that upholds the dignity and image of Kano State.

In the statement, Waiya clarified that the government’s stance is not to suppress political opposition but rather to safeguard the sanctity of Kano’s cultural and religious values.

The ban, which has generated discourse in the state, is viewed by many as a measure to suppress press freedom.

SolaceBase recalls that the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, over the weekend, at a program with local government councillors, threatened to drag some radio stations to court

This is coming few days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.