In what many have tagged as click farming, the Editor –In-Chief of the online platform, Naij.com, has written an open letter to the Founder of MMM. The letter can be viewed bellow:
Dear Mr Mavrodi,
Our attention has been drawn to your open letter dated Sunday, December 18, 2016, which contained a series of heavy criticisms to the address of Nigerian journalists. Therefore, as the biggest online news platform in Nigeria, NAIJ.com deem it necessary to provide a couple of clarifications below:
First and foremost, let us remind you that Nigeria is not Russia. Nobody can tell Nigerian press and media what to write and what not to write about. Freedom of speech and press is one of the fundamental values of our nation. BTW, in case you missed it, presidents also change in Nigeria by means of democratic elections.
The issue of unbiased coverage has been touched in your appeal. Please understand that the aim of Nigerian online and printed press is to be objective rather than take MMM down. Once your company reaches incredible success, we, as well as our fellow colleagues in other media houses, would be happy to report. Invite us!
However, a sudden stop of operation was considered and interpreted as a collapse. It is not far from truth. Can some of our editors who are a part of the scheme withdraw their money tomorrow? – NO. Do you have a clear and specific date when this can be done? – NO. Can millions of Nigerians who invested their “spare cash” use it for buying Christmas & New Year presents for their loved ones? – NO.
The question is: what’s the root of the panic? Some media reports, or the actions and limiting steps taken by MMM Nigeria without any prior notice? We think the answer what came first is obvious.
So, once you resume after the Yuletide period, we would be pleased to report about it.
Let us finish the open letter with your own words: “Leave us [journalists and bloggers] alone and let us work without interference.”