Posted by By Jide Osokoya & Paul Sanusi on
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's eight-year regime has been described as a disaster to media development in the country.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's eight-year regime has been described as a disaster to media development in the country.
Speaking exclusively with P.M.News at Ikeja, the Chairman, Daar Communications Plc., High Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi, said Obasanjo decided to trample on the media because he was afraid of his own shadow.
Recounting the experience of the demolition of the company's building in Abuja, Dokpesi said; 'Obasanjo's administration was a disaster to media development in this country and it was because he was afraid of his shadow.
'It is not unknown that even before he became the president, he was always afraid of the media. He had a tag for those who were not allowed into his environment and those who were allowed. So, it was not surprising that he extended it to the villa during his tenure,' the Whepa Whano of Aghenebode stated.
Dr. Dokpesi attributed his succcess in broadcast establishment to hardwork, commitment and dedication, adding that the freedom and opportunity granted Nigerians by President Umaru Yar'Adua's administration to contribute their quota to the development of the country further encouraged him in this respect.
He revealed that Daar Communications was riding on the president's encouragement that every Nigerian had a right to pursue his or her legitimate cause in any part of the country on any chosen field.
The Daar Communications boss who revealed that he would soon retire from the broadcast outfit, said President Umaru Yar'Adua will on 26 September, 2008, commission Nigeria's first full authentic pay-television platform in Abuja.
He said the pay TV platform would start with 48 channels (40 channels with standard destination and eight with high destination). He described it as his contribution to put Nigeria on the solid map of global digital broadcasting.
On the recent retrenchment of some staff of the organisation, Chief Dokpesi said he was not aware of the laying off of 154 members of staff, but quickly added that it could have been a management decision based on the situation on ground.
'I must say that the equipment and facilities being installed by Daar Communications are highly capital intensive. I've always pointed out that if we are highly capital intensive, we cannot be labour intensive. One has to give way to the other,' he said.