One of Africa’s biggest media entrepreneurs has bowed to pressure and recalled two senior editorial staff whom he sacked in a fit of anger over the weekend.
High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, operators of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, had dismissed Executive Director Imoni Mac Amarere and popular presenter Gbenga Aruleba of FOCUS NIGERIA fame for featuring an interview with Lagos-based journalist and activist Richard Akinnola, on last Friday’s discharge and acquittal of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Nigerian military ruler, General Sani Abacha, in connection with the June 4, 1996 murder of heroine of democracy, Kudirat Abiola. Mr. Akinnola strongly condemned the appeal court verdict, calling it “a miscarriage of justice” of justice and a political judgment to pacify the North ahead of 2015 general elections in which President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to run.
Mr. Akinnola’s views rankled High Chief Dokpesi, whose business survives mainly on government patronage, and he promptly dismissed Amarere and Arulegba.
However, two days after the action, Dokpesi, according to a competent source, has accepted to recall the duo. “So many people intervened,” the source told News Express this morning.
Confirming the reprieve for Amarere and Arulegba, Mr. Akinnola himself wrote minutes ago on Facebook: “The matter is being resolved and Aruleba would be at his desk this afternoon to produce his program FOCUS.”
News Express can, however, not confirm if the recall of Amarere and Aruleba would be as speedy as Akinnola says since their duties have been handed over to a new set of staff by Dokpesi.
A friend of Aruleba who spoke with News Express said: “I spoke with Aruleba this morning and he said he had not been given sack letter but new people have been appointed to handle new for AIT.”
•Photo shows Amarere.
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