FESTIVAL OF THE BEASTS (2) Sonnie Ekwowusi

Argues that the ongoing reality show, BBNaija, is in bad taste

PROGRAMMES ON DSTV AND OTHER CABLE SATELLITES MUST RESPECT THE CULTURAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONVICTIONS OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE

You may be well aware that Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain has marked out concrete ways to block access to online pornography in the United Kingdom. Cameron has repeatedly warned the British public that internet pornography is capable of “corroding childhood”. According to Cameron, “watching porn itself puts the country’s security in danger, encourages violent acts, unacceptable behaviour in society, exploitation of children and lowers the dignity of women. China’s internet filtering methods are very wide and more extensive than in other countries. In Russia, an internet user cannot browse pornography. Why? Because Russia has blacklisted certain character-damaging internet sites that are considered dangerous in Russia. For example, in July 2012 the state of Duma enacted a law that calls for blacklisting of certain internet sites especially those that promote drug usage, advocate suicide or contain child pornography as a means of protecting children from their harmful contents.

If other countries have devised various measures to rid their countries of online and TV pornography capable of destroying their people especially their young ones, what measures are being put in place in Nigeria? Nothing. Of course, there are copious laws in Nigeria that prohibits all sorts of things. But the tragedy is that these laws are hardly enforced by the law enforcement agents. The Police, LASMA, VIO and other funnylooking human beings in funny uniforms are more interested in laying siege to the country’s expressways and extorting money from innocent motorists than the law enforcement functions. Last Friday a chief magistrate who presides over a family court in Lagos confirmed to me that many of the rape cases pending in our magistrate courts are cases involving young persons. Comparative study of rape rates in the United States of America, Scandinavia, Britain, Australia and New Zealand found a correlation between the availability of pornography and high level of rape and sexual violence. In Australia, for instance, the uniform crime data actually support the case for an increase in rape rates after the liberalisation of pornography in Australia. Most perpetrators of sexual violence and girl-child rape are pornographic addicts. Besides, it has been shown that addiction to pornography destroys marriages and children proper upbringing. Therefore if Nigeria does not want to be overwhelmed by high incidence of rape and sexual violence it should tackle TV pornography such as the on-going Big Brother Nigeria TV reality show. Those who still maintain that the airing of Big Brother Naija nudity show is in order because the show is privately subscribed through the DsTV are, with due respect, very wrong. One cannot privately subscribe to commit a crime in Nigeria. Obscene publications, indecent and disorderly exposure in public places, marketing and dissemination of pornography and nudity whether privately subscribed via DsTV or not are offences under the various Nigerian laws and African Regional Instruments such as the Declaration on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child (1979); African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Therefore the airing and dissemination of Big Brother Nigeria pornography, whether through private subscription via DsTV or not is a punishable offence in Nigeria.

Consequently, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) cannot argue that it has no control over Multichoice and DsTV because they are under private subscription. The mission of the NBC is to ensure that broadcasting positively influences societal values in Nigeria in order to improve and strengthen the social, cultural, economic, political and technological values of the nation and set agenda for public good. Therefore the NBC cannot argue that it has no control over programme privately subscribed via DsTV. Article 3.7.0 of the NBC Code states that “the sanctity of marriage and family life shall be promoted and strictly upheld” in the programs shown on TV. Articles 3.7.0 to 3.8.10 of the NBC Code prohibit any programme that promotes obscenity, nudity, sexual scenes, pornography, lewd or profane expressions, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism from being aired on TV. Article 3.9.1 of the NBC Code stipulates that womanhood shall be presented on TV with respect and dignity. Sections 2(1) (n) and 9(3) of the NBC Decree require the NBC to apply sanctions, including revocation of licenses of defaulting stations which do not operate in accordance with the NBC broadcast Code and in the public interest. Therefore the NBC is the statutory body charged with regulating the ethical standards and technical excellence in the entire broadcast industry in Nigeria, including DsTV and other cable television services.

Consequently the House of Representatives’ Committee on Information and National Orientation should wield the big stick as in the past and immediately stop the airing of Big Brother Nigeria. We must uphold the Nigerian cultural heritage. Nudity is not our culture. Obscenity is not our heritage. On its part, the NBC should impose a punitive fine on Multi-choice. Freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinion to receive and impart ideas and information without interference which is enshrined in section 39 of our 1999 Constitution is also curtailed under section 45(1) of the same constitution to the effect that “Nothing in section 39 shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society: in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health”. Therefore, freedom to air Big Brother Nigeria must be balanced with the security of the state, ordered government and the need to promote public morality. No freedom is absolute. As I earlier argued, Multi-Choice is not above the law. Programmes on DsTV and other cable satellites must respect the cultural and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people. They must not violate our cultural heritage.