APC raises alarm over plans by Edo govt to replace Observer Newspaper with Echo newspaper

By Editor

October 13, 2022

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm on the alleged plan by the state-led People's Democratic Party (PDP) government to change the name of the Nigerian Observer newspaper to Echo newspaper.

A statement by the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party in the State, Victor Ofure Osehobo, titled, "Fallacy as an Edo State government policy," and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Benin City alleged that the state government has employed a 14-man staff for the Echo newspaper. 

Ofure added that the government  signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU)  with some unknown media firms for the purpose of daily printing and circulation of the medium on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis.

But when contacted, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon Chris Nehikhare described the allegations as false and unfounded.

Nehikhare said the old Nigerian Observer Newspaper was undergoing reorganization while state-of-art digital facilities are being installed.

According to him, the Nigerian Observer Newspaper is being revamped. New state-of-art-digital facilities are being installed and we are bringing in new staff from different ministries to help strengthen it.

"I am sure you are aware that other newspapers across the country are all digitalized while the Observer Newspapers is moribund.

"What we are doing is to strengthen and relaunch the Observer newspapers to be much more newspaper not only for the South South region  but for the entire  country to bring it back to its old glory.

"The name still remains, "The  Observer Newspapers" and it has not been changed. One of the department in the Edo state ministry is called "Edo Independent Communication Organization (EICO),  so maybe the rumour mongers or the busy body people who are not properly abreast of what is going on, and who are now trying to make up story to show  that they are still existing are referring to that. 

"The revamping of Observer is a work in progress, and once it is ready you will see it in the various newsstands", he said.

He explained that the staff of the old Observer Newspaper are always staff of the Edo State government, and as well as the staff of the ministry of Communication and Orientation.

He added that the staff of the  newspaper have all been redeployed back to the ministry of communication and orientation.

In the press statement, the Edo APC assistant publicity secretary, opined that the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki was being economical with the truth, when in June 2022, he closed down the Nigerian Observer and promised to reopen it in a month after restructuring it.

He said the Edo people thought that the promised to reopen the Observer Newspaper in a month after restructuring was a clandestine move as  part of the state government's  reform process.

"The old Nigeria Observer printing press was auctioned while a fairly press proposed to print ECHO, the new mane Obaseki has given the Nigerian Observer with some of his cronies as staffers has failed to print one sheet of paper since it was imported from Germany in 2020.

"Twice the manufacturers have been guests of the government for millions of Naira, to repair it to no avail.

"But contrary to these promises, the  PDP Government led by Mr Godwin Obaseki has since demolished vital sections of the premises of the newspaper at 24 Airport Road, Benin City, installed a 'N5-billion' printing press, redeployed all the workers to MDAs and created a newspaper called ECHO to replace the Nigerian Observer.

"As a party, we see the action of the governor in saying one thing and doing the opposite as one which is in tandem with his 2020 manifesto called, Make Edo Grounded Again, MEGA. 

"The goal is ensuring a defined template for underdevelopment in Edo state. It is with all the modalities for an unending underevelopment plan, designed to paralyse government tools, guidelines and milestones so that his successors find future development planning an ordeal. We condemn the plot as it is bound to fail 

"The party can recall that in a statement, the Secretary to his  government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq, said, “The Edo State Government, in line with the reforms of the state-owned media organisations, has directed the closure of the Nigerian Observer newspaper for a period of one month, for re-organisation and re-launch of the media outfit.

"All existing staff of the Nigerian Observer are hereby redeployed to the Ministry of Communication and Orientation, with immediate effect, where they will receive further directives on their new responsibilities".

 “Members of the reading public and lovers of the Nigerian Observer brand are assured that their darling newspaper titles will return to the stands shortly better and improved.

"The Nigerian Observer was set up in 1968 by Late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, as Administrator of then Midwest region. It was one of the assets, Edo inherited in 1991.

"This is the situation Edo state government has found itself with a governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki demolishing the legacy Edo newspaper, the pride of Edo state and turning it to an online newspaper, with an editor who is also a staff of the Ministry of Youth and Gender", he added.