UNILAG AD
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, August 12, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State

Bayelsa TV abruptly ends live programme after guests criticised government’s inefficiency

byBen Ezeamalu
October 31, 2012
Reading Time: 2 mins read
19

The management of the TV station is yet to give official reason for the abrupt termination of the broadcast

The management of Bayelsa State Television, on Tuesday, stopped a live programme after the invited guests berated the state government’s handling of the victims of flood disaster.

The one hour long programme at the state owned television station, called Gloryland Television, was terminated after 25 minutes when Tamarakuro Oweifie, the General Manager, directed the programme’s anchor to draw the curtains.

Mr. Oweifie told PREMIUM TIMES he would explain the reasons for the abrupt end of the programme after “he finishes with his investigations.”

Subsequent enquiries were not responded to.

End of discussion

Morris Alagoa, one of the invited guests at the programme said that he was surprised at the sudden decision to end their discussion.

“We have not even attacked the state government, just saying it the way we saw things in our impacted communities and administration of the relief camps,” said Mr. Alagoa, an environmental activist.

Mr. Alagoa and Godwin Ebbeli, another activist, were billed to speak on the flood situation that has ravaged several communities across the Niger Delta region.

TEXEM Advert

While Mr. Alagoa, who had visited several of the communities, spoke on the impact of the flood on the people; Mr. Ebbeli focused on the state government’s handling of the situation, especially the funds released for the victims.

“He (the general manager) thought we will speak like government officials,” Mr. Alagoa said.

In addition to the N500 million provided by the Federal Government to mitigate the disaster, the Bayelsa State Government had approved N1.5 billion from the state’s coffers, according to Mr. Ebbeli.

The state’s House of Assembly had also approved a supplementary budget of N16 billion in the aftermath of the disaster.

Mr. Ebbeli questioned the government’s handling of the funds, adding that it had not reached the real victims of the flood.

That was when the TV station’s management felt they had gone too far.

“First of all they stopped the program as if it was the usual breaks for commercials.

“Then a staff came into the studio and told us, especially my fellow guest, Sir. Godwin Ebbeli that the GM (General Manager) is not comfortable with some statements we were making about the government,” Mr. Alagoa said.

After the commercial break, the programme resumed.

However, a few minutes into the segment, a hand written signal appeared through a glass screen directing the moderator, Joyce Ogiowon, to end the programme.

“When we came out of the studio, some of those watching it from outside expressed surprise too; why the programme ended the way it did,” Mr. Alagoa added.

It was not exactly clear why the programme was ended abruptly but there were indications that Mr. Oweifie acted on orders from above to secure his job.

While he apologized to the guests over the incident, the general manager did not give reasons for his action, which also reportedly angered other members of staff.

“Be rest assured that the programme will take place on a day we all agree,” Mr. Oweifie, a former staff of the Nigeria Television Authority, said in response to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiry.

Mr. Ebbeli said that the main issues after the water recedes would be how to cater for new housing settlements to entire communities displaced by the flood as well as health problems.

“We are not in the habit of hoarding the truth from the public,” Mr. Ebbeli said after the programme.

“The truth must be told no matter how offensive it is.”

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Inadequate funding hampers revenue formula review, says RMAFC Chairman

Next Post

LASG warns sheriffs against sharp practices

Ben Ezeamalu

Ben Ezeamalu

Ben Ezeamalu is an Assistant Managing Editor and the Head of Lagos Operations/Metro Editor at PREMIUM TIMES. A graduate of Microbiology from the University of Jos, Ben won the 2015 Africa Fact-Check Awards and was a runner-up in the 2014 CNN/Multichoice African Journalists of the Year. Twitter: @callmebenfigo.

More News

Folashade Yemi-Esan

Employment Scam: Coalition seeks federal civil service authorities to protect whistleblower

August 12, 2022
Femi Falana and Inibehe Effiong

Prison officials liable for 25 years imprisonment for ‘torturing’ Inibehe Effiong – Falana

August 12, 2022
Minister-of-Education-Adamu-Adamu

EXCLUSIVE: Strike: Education minister to update Nigerians

August 12, 2022
Opeyemi Kadiri, the ex-police officer dekitted by senior officers

Police dismiss officer for checking commuter’s phone

August 12, 2022
Inibehe Effiong

Inibehe Effiong: Lawyers ask NBA to declare nationwide action against Akwa Ibom Chief Judge

August 12, 2022
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Logo (PHOTO CREDIT: ICIR)

Ogun 2023: I am not withdrawing from guber race, APM candidate writes INEC

August 12, 2022
Read All Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • PT Hausa
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria