By BERNARD BALOGUN

The producer of the BBC documentary on Dr Ahmad Isah, of Brekete Family Programme slapped a woman, aired by most social media platforms in Nigeria, displayed crass unprofessionalism, and he did it on purpose. Fortunately, I know the guy, Peter Nkanga. I am genuinely astonished that a BBC staff could display such unprofessionalism.

In journalism, it is taught, a good story runs on two legs, for purposes of balanced reporting. This documentary was produced on one leg and Peter did it deliberately to mess up Isah. What would have been Peter’s reaction if the little girl of six years, tied hands and legs before setting on fire, were to be Peter Nkanga’s? Was Peter not up to mischief, he ought to have told his audience what subsequently followed, after the slap? Ordinary president rushed the little girl to the hospital for treatment so that the small girl’s scalp and hair could be reclaimed. The small girl and her mother spent one month in the hospital. After their discharge, mother and child came to the studio to thank Ordinary president for his philanthropy. On that occasion, the ordinary president gave the small girl’s mother enormous money to set-up a business of her own so that she could adequately care for the child and send her to school.

He deliberately left out that second leg. Why did Peter leave this out in his amateur documentary? Bad belle, l guess. Peter, why did you not tell your audience that the little girl’s father lost his younger brother as a result of this incident? I am an ardent follower of the “Brekete Programme” and have unhindered access into the studio. Let me say this sincerely and with the fear of God in mind. The incident did not, l repeat with every emphasis, the incident did not happen during live transmission. Ardent viewers would confirm that Ordinary president rarely wears agbada while anchoring the programme. lf he does, know that he will not finish the programme. He has appointment to catch elsewhere in town.

However, on this particular day, Susan, 23, and younger sister to the father of the little girl, was brought to the studio very late. At this time, the Ordinary president was exhausted from attending to over 150 complainants. In fact, the Content Consultant of Human Rights Radio/TV strenuously endeavoured to discourage Ordinary president from attending to Susan that day. The Content Consultant suggested he could do that next day. He genuinely needed rest. Against this wise counsel, Dr Ahmad Isah insisted to attend to the lady. That he wore agbada in the documentary confirms his preparedness to close that day, whereas the “Brekete Family” runs in the morning between 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. So it was not in the morning. Peter Nkanga lied there.

Lastly, for reasons best known to Peter Nkanga, he displayed utter disdain and disrespect for Isah, the Ordinary president. For purposes of better appreciation, Isah is the Chief Media Strategist/CEO of Human Rights Radio and Television. He is, therefore, entitled to be called “employer of labour”. But for Peter to have merely referred to the Ordinary president as....worker and owner..., in my considered opinion, that remark is derogatory and demeaning. That amateur documentary is a shame and it glaringly confirms my sentiment that BBC has retrogressed professionally.

In closing, yesterday morning in the studio, the little girl, her mother, the father and, indeed an eye-witness by name Pastor Abiodun Adeyeye, were in the studio to beg the Ordinary President to please tolerate the insults from some heartless Nigerianswho believed that what the lady did to her daughter was right. Interestingly, the mother and the eye-witness did not leave the studio without praying for these heartless Nigerians, who apparently undermined the excruciating pains her daughter went through, may God visit their own children with such excruciating pains in multiple folds. Amen.

For instance, two significant problems “Brekete Family” solved during Peter Nkanga’s one-month stay with the Human Rights Radio/TV. A mother brought her son of about 11years to studio to beg Ordinary president to help sponsor her child’s medical bill. The small boy's intestines were outside, using her mother's wrapper to cover the gory sight. When Ordinary president asked the young boy to remove the wrapper during live programme, excreta poured on the floor. Immediately, the boy was rushed to the hospital. Today, the young boy is back to sound health, after Ordinary president spent over N700,000. Not only that, Isah empowered the boy’s mother with new grinding machine and an operating capital. The boy's father is jobless.

The second one: A young man had heart problem and urgently needed a transplant at the National Hospital. The sum of N9 million was badly needed. The mother of the man, a student of University of Maiduguri, had gone to several places before berth at Human Right Radio/TV. Ordinary president put a call to Governor Zulum of Borno State. In less than 12 hours, Zulum sent N10 million to the man’s mother’s account. The one million extra was to take care of the man after the operation. Today, that young man is strong and on his feet. When the mother came to thank Ordinary president during live transmission, you could feel the joy of a mother.

All these Peter Nkanga witnessed but decided to do an amateur documentary that questions his professionalism.

•Balogun, (BenPino) writes from Wuse District, Abuja.