In Kano, local radio stations have been turned into battlefields. It has reached a point where some people have capitalised on the situation to offer themselves to politicians who want to insult or denigrate their opponents. These are locally called Sojojin baka. They ply their trade with verbal attacks on genuine or perceived political opponents often without consequences.
Observers believe that unguarded political statements laced with abusive words are not only capable of inciting violence but can damage one’s reputation.
Section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides for freedom of expression and the right of every citizen to hold opinions, to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. However, exercising this right comes with enormous responsibilities. For instance, politicians could face legal action if they malign or impugn the integrity or reputation of their opponents. Many politicians try to outsmart one another to win political power by deploying all manner of arsenals at their disposal.
A prominent APC member, Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda, was not lucky when he recently made what the security agencies consider an inciting political statement during a radio discussion programme.
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Danbilki had, while featuring on a local radio political programme, was alleged to have threatened fire and brimstone should the NNPP-led government in the state attempt to reorganise the five emirates created by the Ganduje administration in 2019.
‘Kwamanda’, as he is fondly called, was subsequently arrested and arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court.
The court had ordered his remand in a custodial facility until February 6 when it will rule on his bail application.
It was not the first time Danbilki would be arrested and remanded for unguarded political utterances.
In March 2022, a Kano State magistrate’s court presided over by Senior Magistrate Aminu Gabari ordered the remand of Danbilki Kwamanda over allegations of defaming the character of the then Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
He was charged with Inciting public disturbance and spreading falsehood with injurious comments against the personality of the governor.
The prosecution counsel, Wada Ahmed Wada, alleged that Danbilki, during a radio programme had alleged that Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje bribed the National Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni, to retain Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas as Kano APC chairman.
Similarly, Ahmad Dahiru Maiwuddadu, who is the spokesman for APC Kano Central Senatorial District candidate Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Zaura, was remanded by a magistrate’s court for allegedly defaming the character of Rufa’i Hanga, the NNPP senator representing Kano Central in the Senate.
Maiwuddadu is alleged to have defamed Senator Hanga during a radio programme titled ‘Tauraron A. A. Zaura’, which was sponsored by A. A. Zaura.
The prosecutor, Barr Fatima Adamu Ahmad, alleged that the defendant referred to Senator Hanga as a drunkard who embezzled money belonging to Kano Municipal constituents and spent it in clubs and beer parlours.
The prosecution stated that these alleged offences violated sections 393 and 144 of the Penal Code Law.
However, Maiwuddadu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Binta Galadanchi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 along with two reliable sureties who are at least on Grade Level 12 in the civil service and a village head or ward head.
Another ‘Sojan baka’, Mustapha Muhammad Bature, popularly known as Jarfa, spent one year in a custodial facility after a senior magistrate in January 2019 found the politician guilty of insulting the then deputy governor of Kano State, Nasiru Gawuna, on his Facebook page.
Jarfa, a resident of Tudun Wada Quarters of Kano, was convicted on a one-count charge of intentional insult which he pleaded guilty to. He, however, pleaded not guilty to other charges of inciting disturbance, criminal intimidation and defamation of character. The court sentenced him to one-year imprisonment.
“The accused defamed the character of the deputy governor which tarnished his image and reputation as well as threatening him which caused disharmony and breach of peace within and outside the state,” the charge read.
According to a report by the National Broadcasting Commission, which monitored violations from such programmes on various radio stations in the state there were a total of 374 violations in 2023.
A breakdown showed that 163incidents were recorded as unfair remarks against both high profile and low-profile personalities, 199 incidents of unsubstantiated allegation against some personalities, 68 inciting remarks against some personalities and 24 derogatory remarks against personalities.
A lecturer at Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Dr Kabiru Sufi, said politicians sponsor their attack dogs to use radio stations to either launch propaganda or promote their political aspirations and campaign against others.
He said media houses need to exercise caution on political content with the potential to cause injury to the image and reputation of others.
“However, most of these ‘Sojojin baka’ are not aware or are ignorant of the limitations of freedom of speech, especially libel and sedition. So, as the political scene gathered momentum, the verbal engagements became dirty and murky. The same applies to social media.
“With the resort to legal redress by some politicians recently, I believe some sanity will be restored. Though there is the need for enlightenment and civil engagements between politicians and their supporters,’’ Sufi said.
He said the use of refined language devoid of abuse and adherence to laid down ethics in political communication need to be encouraged.
‘Kano elders have even recommended imposing a two-month moratorium on political broadcasts until politicians learn to play the game according to the rules. They failed because radio stations in the state were not ready to lose the needed revenue from political jingles and guest appearances.
Daily Trust reports that an attempt by the Kano Peace Committee to bring sanity to political broadcasts and activities of the sojojin baka yielded little or no result at all.
The Convener/Head of secretariat, Kano Peace Committee Ibrahim Wayya, said one of the factors fuelling the verbal warfare is that most of those engaged in the trade are on the government’s payroll.
He said NBC, the body charged with the responsibility of regulating political broadcasts, is handicapped in terms of enforcing compliance with its political code.
“The most unfortunate thing is that those making these utterances consider themselves above the law because the state government is behind them and they are considered to be part and parcel of the state government.
“Some of them were actually party leaders of the ruling party and NBC cannot sanction them. The only thing they can do is to sanction the media.’’
Wayya said the committee hopes all these will change as all stakeholders are expected to play critical roles in sanitising political conduct in the state.
He said some of the political breaches recorded on local radio stations include unfair remarks against high or low-profile politicians, unsubstantiated allegations against personalities, and derogatory and inciting statements.
Prominent Sojojin baka are believed to be rewarded with lucrative appointments or government patronage. Some were appointed commissioners or special advisers thereby making it an enterprising business for many.
