Date Published: 01/14/10

Media Houses' Man of the Year Awards

Reading the newspapers of January 1, 2010, I discovered that three newspapers (Vanguard, Guardian and Independent) tried to announce their “Man of the Year”. Another newspaper, Sun, would in accordance with its tradition, do so in the first quarter of the year.

Out of the trio, Vanguard and Guardian looked very credible.  Governor Babatunde Fashola was their winner. Sun newspaper would also announce him or the GTB Aderiokun as the winner. The odd is against Daily Independent which gave joint-winner to Mike Adenuga and Governor Akpabio. Reading the reasons Akpabio came into contention many may not have got convinced whereas Mike Adenuga’s was convincing.

On Akpabio: Independent presented ‘free education’ which one understood existed in Akwa Ibom up to JSS-3 but for Akpabio raising the bar to SSS-3; yet with no additional classrooms. On continuity claim, Akpabio could not afford not carrying on because the projects left uncompleted for him was well articulated ones: Ibom Airport/Hangar project with MRO facility, which he came and jacked up by $52million, yet the important component (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, MRO)  remain uncompleted. Completion period as now known through the media would be towards the end of 2010. Independent editorial board need to visit Gombe and learn how fast Governor Goje completed a commercial flight airport. Akpabio was credited with the 191kw Independent Power Propect (IPP) which was confirmed by his nominated National Assembly Officer in 2007 on oversight assignment as 85% completed before his assuming office; with only transmission line confirmed to be the only aspect left. Till today Akwa Ibom remains without steady power supply. The ‘digitalized’ new Governor’s Lodge which Independent in its editorial opinion page earlier criticized now resurfaced as an achievement; Independent may have reversed self. Also featured were the free medical for aged and children with no additional hospital built and the donated (controversial) 17 dialysis equipment still hanging. Even the still-in-foundation N33billion controversial Tropicana featured..

When I was discussing with a friend who actually brought the ‘Man of the Year’ issue to my attention, we guessed why Independent came up myopicallyso. In this era of compromise or bought awards and also that the Managing Editor of the media house is from Akwa Ibom, we could not look far. The likes of Independent should not make mockery of this important award.

Dr. Soriwei P. Igoni

       University of Port Harcourt

              Choba, Rivers State