AIT Fire Pits Party Supporters against Each Other

The studio in the Lagos office of the African Independent Television (AIT) in Alagbado yesterday caught fire, but was successfully put out before it could spread to the main building.

News about the fire incident was first broken by the broadcasting station on their Twitter handle at 10.05 am.

The initial tweet had read: “Fire Guts AIT's studio in Alagbado, Lagos”, and at 10.45am, they tweeted an update announcing that the fire had been put out by men of the fire service. “No casualty recorded and the damage is being assessed,” the station stated.

The fire was said to have started at about 9am and minutes later, three fire trucks from Ikeja, Alausa and Agege were deployed.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the cause of the fire was a power surge, which affected the air conditioner in the studio.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Director of the Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said the fire was contained because his men arrived the scene quickly after notification.

He said initial assessment revealed that only the air conditioner was affected, adding that before the fire service arrived, the staff of the media house was trying to combat it.

Following the incident, several conspiracy theories were bandied around by individuals on the various social media platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter.

Opening the floodgates, one Jejero Bang tweeted: "I hope they won't blame Buhari or Tinubu for this.”

Barely minutes after his tweet, a social media blame game erupted with both sides hauling unsubstantiated accusations at each other.

Essentially, the argument was between Team Goodluck Jonathan and the opposition presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, known as GEJ and GMB respectively in social media lingo.

Immediately the news filtered into the social media space, it ignited a war between the supporters of both candidates.

The first salvo was delivered by Team GEJ who alleged that the fire was started by the opposition because of the comprehensive documentary carried by AIT on the lifestyle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu.

Of course, Team GMB did not take the accusation lying low, and went for the jugular of the other team.

For Team GMB, one Naseer Baba alleged that the fire incident was mere propaganda, despite the picture of the flames emanating from AIT’s office.

Another alleged: “PDP burning down pro-PDP properties so as to woo sympathy to themselves and at the same time build hate towards the opposition party.

“How much is the worth of the station that the stolen $20 billion can't rebuild? All for election!"

But a more moderate Moses Abu said: “My condolences. I hope the damage is not much.”

Yet others observed: “Is this what politics has reduced us to? Unsympathetic, cold blooded fellows? I can't believe some people here are actually rejoicing at the misfortune of others.

“This bitterness and hatred is unhealthy. I support Jonathan but I can never wish any opposition member ill.”

OduObodumu tweeted, “I disagree with you on this. We pray for no fire anywhere. We pray for objectivity, peace and progress for Nigeria.”