Victor EzejaHuman Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Nigerian Senate’s of summon of Brekete Family Radio CEO, Ahmad Isah, over a broadcast involving Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
HURIWA described the action as an affront to press freedom, and other fundamental rights provided in the constitution.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a statement signed its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubuko, HURIWA said the invitation trivialises the business of law making, adding that very soon, the National Assembly may spend the massively expensive legislative periods to entertain road-side gossip.
The human rights group said: “The National Assembly should be the incubator of good and quality laws to enhance good governance.”
HURIWA said legislators are elected to represent serve the interest of their constituents and should not see themselves as “demi-gods”.
“Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria as clearly stated by the Nigerian constitution. Any manifestation of intolerance to divergent opinions by legislators, is antithetical to constitutional democracy and must be discouraged by all lovers of democracy,” it further emphasised.
HURIWA said the Senate as the upper lawmaking body in the National Assembly, has more serious issues to handle, adding that summoning of Brekete Family CEO “typifies a man whose house is on fire but goes about chasing rats.”
The Rights group said Nigerians are struggling with hyper-inflation, depreciating value of the Naira, costs of living crisis, heightened insecurity, youth unemployment, but the Senate of Nigeria under the current dispensation has gone after a Radio station for interviewing an opposition member of the Senate who had disagreement with the Senate president.
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Ahmed Isa, popularly known as the Ordinary President of the Brekete Family, revealed in a post on his X handle on Monday, 24 February that the Nigerian Senate has summoned him to appear before it on or before Thursday, 27 February 2025.
The invitation by the Senate comes amid a recent clash between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over her seating arrangement in the upper legislative chamber.
Prime Business Africa reports that during one of Brekete Family’s live programme after the incident, Isah called Akpoti-Uduaghan to comment on the ongoing controversy. The lawmaker insisted that her action of kicking against the seating arrangement and speaking up was within her rights and privileges as Senator on the hallowed red chamber, adding that she has been going through a lot. She claimed that she has been denied many privileges including being removed from a committee, denial of opportunities to participate in impactful programmes abroad.
The Kogi senator also alleged that there is a plot to suspend her from the Senate after she protested her relocation within the chamber without prior notice.
The Brekete Family CEO thereafter called the Senate President to get his own side of the story but after answering initially, he didn’t pick further calls.
The dispute escalated when the Kogi Senator insisted on retaining her former seat, prompting Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno to cite Section 6(1) of the Senate Standing Rules, which grants the Senate President authority over seating arrangements.
During the altercation, Akpabio reportedly muted her microphone and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the chamber.
HURIWA criticised the Senate’s decision to summon Ahmad Isah of Brekete family just as the Rights group defended the Brekete family’s human rights Radio for consistently exposing allegations of human rights violations even as the Rights group said the invitation is a direct affront to the constitutionally guaranteed press freedom and freedom of expression as encapsulated in the Grund Norm.
It cited section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which provides that: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
The group also cited section 39 which says that: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and Info without interference”.
HURIWA warned the Senate against creating the impression that the lawmakers are above the law. The Rights group reminded the legislators that they are members of the National Assembly by the virtue of the mandates of the voters which give the legislators the legitimacy to exercise authority which doesn’t crown them as emperors.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
