By Daniel Alabra
I hate to turn against members of my constituency. But this had to be done.
I’m alarmed at Channels TV reportage of the attack and killings that took place today in Nembe community in Bayelsa State. The way the report was presented on the station’s news bulletins, you would think that a skirmish broke out between rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party during its governorship rally in the town.
“Tensions flared today at the PDP governorship rally in Nembe, Bayelsa State, leaving three persons dead” was how it was reported.
Haba! Was this what happened? Did the attack and killings take place at the rally ground? Did the rally hold or it was disrupted?
Fact is, the premeditated attack on the PDP members occurred as they entered the town for the rally. The shootings and eventual killings took place as they approached the rally venue.
The intention was to disrupt the governorship campaign event, which the thugs working for the APC achieved. Before today, there had been rumours that the PDP would not be allowed to campaign in the Nembe communities of Ogbolomari and Bassambiri. So, it was a classical case of a bird crying on the rooftop at night and a child dying in the morning. Besides, one H E Tari Agai had warned through a Facebook post that the PDP can campaign in Nembe but that the Commissioner for Education, who is the Director of Media and Publicity of the governorship campaign council, must not enter the community, where he hails from. Some have called for his arrest over the incident.
However, Channels misinformed its viewers by deliberately (in my view) avoiding mentioning the fact that the PDP members were attacked and that the killings were not the result of any tension that flared at the campaign rally.
These are human lives (no fewer than six though it understandably reported three) that were prematurely wasted by roughnecks working for a rival APC. This is the kind of news slant that makes many Nigerians accuse the station of bias and lack of objectivity in its reportage. I had always defended Channels against such claims but today I’m aghast at the manner such a gruesome incident was handled and reported.
I therefore ask: is it really true Channels TV is pro-APC?
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