Why I won’t appear before Fayemi’s Fact-Finding Committee on Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State – Lere Olayinka
My attention has been drawn to announcements on radio in Ekiti State and publications on Social Media, suggesting my invitation to appear before the Fact-Finding Committee set up by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on the activities of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State BSES), owners of Ekiti Radio 91.5FM and Ekiti Television (EKTV).
While it is an established fact that as I write today, November 14, 2018, I am yet to receive any official invitation from the so-called committee to that effect; I wish to state expressly that I am not under any obligation to appear before the committee or any other one for that matter.
From its actions so far, especially the Press Statement in which it referred to the date of yesterday as November 23, 2018, it is clear that the said Committee was not properly briefed on its scope, powers and functions, hence its ill decision to embark on a naked dance at Oja Oba Market, advertising its ignorance to the entire world by acting like a judicial panel or a court of law.
I, therefore wish to inform those who set the committee up for a pre-determined purpose that I, Lere Olayinka will not appear before any committee of a government that was faultily established with the stolen mandate of Ekiti people.
Most importantly, since one of the major reasons for setting up the committee is to find out what led to the closure of Ekiti FM 91.5 and EKTV on July 14, 2018, I advise the committee to seek audience with Governor Kayode Fayemi, who engineered the closure through his Abuja collaborators.
It is an undisputable/notorious fact that the closure of Ekiti Radio and Television was part of the grand plot to take the State by force and also illegally. Since that sinister motive has been achieved and Fayemi is now the imposing governor, he should rather see to the reopening of the broadcast stations instead of seeking to rub the mud of his act of wickedness against Ekiti and the innocent staff of the BSES who only did their jobs as directed by their employer on others.
It is on record that the N2m recommencement fee imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was paid. Yet, the suspension was not lifted.
It is also on record that while receiving his Certificate of Return from INEC, Fayemi boasted openly that the Radio and Television stations won’t be reopened until October 16, 2018.
Therefore, Fayemi, the mastermind of the closure of EKTV and Ekiti Radio should reopen the stations.
Also, since the Committee is FACT-FINDING, the number one priority should have been the reopening of the stations so that the members can have unhindered access to records of the Corporation haven been locked in the offices since July 14, 2018.
My question is; can a Fact-Finding Committee function effectively without having access to the corporations’ requisite documents and equipments?
Furthermore, there are Civil Servants who are Directors in the BSES. These Director’s are the custodians of the Corporation’s relevant information and they are the ones that can be summoned by the Fact-Finding Committee, not an individual, personnel or group of persons who are no longer in the employment of government.
The committee is therefore advised to seek relevant information on BSES from the Directors of Administration and Supplies, Finance, Engineering and others.
Also, as said earlier, the committee should appeal to Governor Fayemi to get the stations reopened so that proper assessment of the stations’ functional and non-functional equipments can be carried out.
And on a lighter mood, since we are now in the era of Executive Orders in Ekiti, may be the governor can as well sign “Executive Order 419” to reopen the radio and television stations that he closed to prevent the Ayo Fayose-led government from communicating with the good people of Ekiti who rely on the broadcast stations for information after the July 14, 2018 governorship election was rigged as planned.
Let me conclude for now by urging members of the so-called committee as well as those helping them to appraise their ignorance and ill decisions to advise Governor Fayemi to first wash his hands clean so that when next he is coming to equity, he will come with clean hands.
Lere Olayinka
Media Aide to former Governor Ayodele Fayose
November 14, 2018.
