It’s never been easy, any time I had reasons to come hard on the Media in Oyo state. This is so, because, I have met quite a lot of highly professional, determined and very objective Media Practitioners and owners in the course of my advocacy over these years.
In fact, I have to say that those who are committed to the struggle of making our society better than what it currently is, are far more than those who have sold their conscience to the devil. I am not an angel and of course, no one is, but at this stage of my life, I have made up my mind to continue to strive to make myself a better version of who I was, the day before.
I have seen far more better personalities than myself and I always envy them, while trying to copy one or two positive attributes of theirs.
When I said that we can not afford to leave the Agenda setting for the 2027 elections in Oyo state to the Media alone, honestly, even me, I felt bad because within this same Media, so many Practitioners have shown serious commitments and many have made verifiable sacrifices.
Sadly, the black sheeps also abound and unfortunately, no matter how few they are, the case before us is like a pot of soup and salt. There is no way you could make a delicious pot of soup without salt but if you add so much salt, the little percentage that constituted the excess is enough to spoil the whole soup!
On the morning of Sunday, the 26th July, 2026, I was monitoring Egbon Diran Odeyemi on a popular Radio station in Ibadan. He was being interviewed on sundry issues but immediately he started making his points about Governor Seyi Makinde, the transmission suddenly went dead.
My immediate reaction was to burst into laughter because I needed no one to tell me what just happened. I remember saying out loud, ” Egbon has been served”.
I received two calls from two elderly brothers of mine in quick succession. The first was from a public figure and political leader in our state. He was worried. In fact, he was panicky. He felt Egbon Diran might be in danger. I laughed and told him that, if Egbon Diran was in the Studio, he would be perfectly fine.
I told him that what Egbon Diran was currently witnessing, I had witnessed same on the same program, same Radio station. I narrated my ordeal at the same Radio station about a couple of months ago to him.
I was invited to the program. My appearance had been announced but before I could speak, the owner of the Radio station called the program anchor and with my two ears, I listened to him telling the program anchor that I must not be allowed to speak on his Radio station anymore.
In fact, rather than being embarrassed, I was terribly surprised at the level of immaturity displayed by the funny fellow. As a mark of respect for the anchor and the program Panel, I wouldn’t have joined issues with him but when he kept lying that I wrote a piece before the time, where I abused him, I decided to do a write up about his arrogant and immature attitude.
When he started saying that I wrote a piece where I abused him, I felt like, who the hell is this fellow that he thinks he is beyond reproach if he deserves it? I remember that I wrote a piece about a gift of SUV he collected from Governor Seyi Makinde but I did not abuse him, not because I am afraid of him but just because, I felt it was within his rights to accept gifts from anyone, provided he would be ready for the consequences and the consequences are here now.
Loss of freedom!
Since he got that Greek gift, he has never remained the same. I believe everybody now sees the reason why I said we can not allow the Media in Oyo state to set the Agenda for 2027?
For all Intent and purposes, the particular Radio station is telling us that it is now an extension of Omi Tuntun. Let’s look at it, just like myself, Egbon Diran Odeyemi has been in the forefront of exposing the many atrocities of the Seyi Makinde Government.
He was on this particular Radio station on invitation. As he was about to delve into issues relating to Seyi Makinde, the transmitters miraculously went dead. I have verifiable facts about what happened but, what is my headache? Someone establishes a Radio station and he felt he wants to dedicate his Radio station to a particular politician. What is wrong with that? Nothing of course.
This is the same Radio station where a particular Broadcaster enjoys the freedom of marketing Seyi Makinde and demarketing the opposition almost everyday. I told someone that both the Radio presenter who had also collected a SUV and the owner used to think they are wise.
Most of the time that they invite people on their program, from the opposition, most especially, from the All Progressives Congress, APC, it is mostly those who have issues with the APC and who would always come on Air to disparage the party while claiming to be ” Leader” or ” stakeholders” within the APC.
As God would have it, we have over a hundred Radio stations in Ibadan alone and still counting.
Not only that, Radio is a major medium through which information could be disseminated but, it is not the only medium.
So, where is the victory?
I am not saying that the Radio station should give undue advantage to the opposition but, at least, be fair to all. You can’t be taking everything from the present Government while trying to sensor the opposition.
When he prevented me from speaking on his Radio station, someone suggested that I should submit a complaint to the NBC and I told him it is not necessary.
I am old enough not to act in a way that will build unnecessary and undeserved sympathy for a hypocrite but I can definitely assist a hypocrite to advertise his hypocrisy. I was so sure he would still repeat the action and he has vindicated me.
I will not be surprised if he goes ahead to donate his Radio station to the purveyors of Omi Tuntun. After all, to whom much is given, much more is expected.
I however must say this, what will be, will be. That Radio station is not a ticket to any Government House. It can not even guarantee election as a Councilor. So, what’s all the fuss about?
E sinmi lala koko fefe.
Sola Abegunde.
