- Some television and radio station owners have distanced themselves from the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) over its threat to boycott media engagements of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing the position as a personal opinion that does not reflect the industry.
IBAN had earlier warned of a possible boycott unless the minister retracts his comment on Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television and issues a public apology.
However, Chairman and owner of JKD Television (DSTV Channel 391) and Hamada Radio Networks, Yusufu Mamman, dismissed the association’s stance, urging the public and the minister to disregard it.
Mamman described the IBAN Chairman, Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, as an impostor who lacks the authority to speak on behalf of broadcast station owners.
“My attention has been drawn to an organisation called IBAN led by one ‘Dr’ Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, speaking for independent broadcasters and threatening to boycott media briefings by the FCT Minister,” he said.
According to him, the position expressed by IBAN is merely Ramalan’s personal view and not that of practitioners in the broadcast industry.
“The position of the so-called IBAN is at best an opinion of Mr Ramalan, who is never a broadcaster and has no idea of laws, norms, etiquette or professional broadcasting codes,” Mamman stated.
He added that as a major stakeholder operating a television station and four radio stations, he does not belong to IBAN and would not support what he described as unnecessary escalation of an issue already clarified.
Mamman further alleged that Ramalan has been involved in legal disputes with several broadcasting organisations and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), questioning his credibility to represent the sector.
He noted that the minister had already explained his remarks during the live programme, while his spokesperson also issued a statement clarifying that the comment was figurative and not intended as a threat.
“Therefore, I urge the Minister to ignore his ranting,” Mamman said.
The development underscores growing divisions within the broadcasting community over IBAN’s stance, as industry players continue to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the minister’s media chat remarks.
