By Austin Nwanwa
The chicken are coming home to roost. The bubble is about to burst and the public will soon be made to know those who masterminded the release of the viral controversial video.
Since the release of the video a few days ago in which the deputy speaker of the House of the Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu was said to have called on Governor Alex Otti of his home state of Abia to rejoin APC, his former political party, I have been immersed in this eerie feeling that something sinister was in the offing. I am aware of Kalu’s relationship with the proprietor of ABN TV to have necessitated an interview but I am not sure about Spin FM. So, it was then shocking to see a branded, watermarked video of Kalu from Spin 95.3 FM, Umuahia. Then, I sensed an insider’s job which largely speaks to unethical and irresponsible journalism.
Just yesterday, Spin FM management proved me right via a statement issued by the station manager, Elder Chidi N. Uluka that Kalu never granted them an interview thereby shooting themselves in the legs.
Read Uluka: “As a responsible media organisation, we wish to state as follows:
- Spin 95.3 FM did not produce, air, or post the interview in question on any of our platforms or elsewhere.
- The video in question was first aired on ABN’s social media platforms (Facebook and YouTube Live) on July 30th.
- Spin 95.3 FM obtained the video from ABN’s page and credited ABN when we posted it on our TikTok page on July 31st, 2024.
- At no point did Spin 95.3 FM grant an interview to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
- The video was subsequently posted on our Instagram page on August 19th, 2024, at 16:08 hrs, after it had already gone viral.
Surprisingly, in quick succession, ABN TV’s director, Ifeanyi Okali also refuted Spin FM’s claims.
He said in a statement: “The attention of Fakzy Media Ltd, owners of ABN TV and Radio has been drawn to a press statement by Spin 95.3 FM based in Umuahia in which our organisation was mentioned regarding a viral video of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. We wouldn’t have bothered making any comment but allow anyone who has made mockery of ethical and responsible journalism bear his/her cross. But for the avoidance of doubt, it has become necessary to categorically state thus:
- ABN TV granted an interview to the Deputy Speaker, which was posted on our Facebook and YouTube pages on July 30 and 31, 2024.
- Spin FM claimed to have obtained the video it shares from ABN TV page. We want to challenge the organization to reproduce which part of our watermarked video that has similar content with the one it shares.
- The Deputy Speaker’s interview posted on our platforms clearly bears our watermark. Spin FM should explain how ABN TV watermark suddenly disappeared in the content it shares.
- If Spin FM did not grant an interview to the Deputy Speaker as it rightly admitted, how did it end up stamping its watermark on a content it never originally produced?
- In one breath, it claimed that it did not post the said interview on any of its platforms, in another it claimed that it was posted on its TikTok page.
- Claiming ownership of intellectual property that is not your is also a breach of extant laws.
- Lastly, Spin FM should explain the source of the 2-Minutes and 21-secs video it publishes as it never emanated from any of the ABN TV platforms.”
So whodunit? This is the question now. Obviously, this is the case of two irresponsible media houses battling each other over who deceitfully edited the viral video of the deputy speaker to cause disaffection and dissatisfaction in the public places. It is akin to a double tale of a single story.
This even validates the fears in some quarters that the viral video may have been manipulated or edited out of context to malign the deputy speaker who has done and still doing so much for Abia and Ndi Igbo gburugburu.
Kalu and Otti, I know share an affinity privately and publically. They are political missionaries who want the best for Ndi Abia. And now, it appears many have so misconstrued the message in the video to create some bad blood between them. This is mischievous.
Come to think of it, what is Kalu’s sin? That he asked his home state governor who was also a member of the APC to comeback to the fold so that the combined effect will bring rapid growth and development in the State? Who wouldn’t do so? When did it become a taboo to woo people into one’s political party? Why would the heaven fall now? For me, I do not see any wrong in Kalu’s call to Governor Otti to come back to APC. This what any leader of his status would rightly do.
For the video, Kalu should conduct a thorough check to know who sold him out between the two stations. Somehow, somebody must be made to come clean. Both stations can’t keep trading words, thinking it will convince Kalu or the public. It can’t. The truth should be told to serve as a deterrence to other social media enthusiasts and bloggers. Ethical and responsible journalism must be encouraged and upheld at all times.
Austin Nwanwa, a public affairs analyst writes from Umuahia, Abia State
