By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Akin to wielding a big stick over the head of a child to instil fears into his young heart, the live transmission of Channels Television was on Tuesday disrupted for some minutes before it was restored.
Although no official reasons have been given by the management of the station for the sudden break in transmission, it may not be unconnected to the discussion on #Twitter by the guests on set when the incident happened.
No sooner Channels Television’s Abuja Bureau Anchor, Maope Ogun-Yusuf asked the two guests-, Emmanuel Umeh and Alwan Hassan, questions on #Twitter than the transmission was scrambled and later went blank.
The blackout forced Channels Television to go off-air temporarily before it bounced back.
The discussion on Twitter in Nigeria has become a taboo since the authorities have suspended the operations of the microblogging giants in Nigeria following a row over its alleged double standards.
Meanwhile, the panellists, Alwan Hassan, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Emmanuel Umeh, Head of New Media of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have asked the older politicians to leave the scene for the youths.
Specifically, Hassan said that time has come for youths to step out of the shadows of older politicians to take the realm of power just as he argued that politics should be a call for service.
Said he: “Anybody going into politics to make money is a thief. Politicians should have second address, by this I mean they should be gainfully employed before going into politics. It should not be where to make money “.
Also, speaking on youths participation in politics, Umeh said PDP has being in the forefront of encouraging youths to take active interest in politics.
He however argued that the mood of the nation does not encourage anyone including the youths to aspire for anything, adding that the country is more divided today than at anytime.
” We need unity in Nigeria and I will encourage our President Muhammadu Buhari as the father of the nation to take a tour of six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to meet with the leaders, hear from them, have dinner and sleep over to reconcile the nation”, Umeh advised.
