Obaigbena: Nobody Can Predict Who will Be Nigeria’s Next President

The Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has said nobody can predict who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

This is coming as the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, have tasked the leadership of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) on the need to prioritise ethics and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking in Abuja at the induction of the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, as BON Chairman, Obaigbena, while noting that Nigeria is in a momentous time, expressed optimism that the newly inducted BON executives will be able to guide Nigeria through this change.

He also said that with the current situation, nobody can predict who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Obaigbena said: “Nigeria is in a momentous time – a time of great change that even on this table in the powerhouse in Kano, none of them can tell you who the next president would be. At this time in Nigeria, there is nobody who can predict 2023. Therefore, these are times of momentous change, when we have ideas of some of those who founded Nigeria in the 60s clashing with the new ideas of the millennials and who Femi Adesina will not like to hear at times.

“However, we are here to welcome the new leadership of BON, John Ugbe, and his colleague. I believe they are very capable to guide Nigeria through this change. I salute them all.”

In their separate contributions, Ganduje and Adesina urged the leadership of BON to prioritise ethics and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Ganduje, who underscored the need for government to support the media industry to move broadcast media to greater heights in the face of emerging global challenges, also tasked broadcasters with the need to promote peace and national development above individual interest.

According to him, the Nigerian media has an important role to play in promoting the unity and progress of the nation at this moment of challenges.

Ganduje also called on the executive arm of government to upgrade their broadcast facilities to ensure that they have the facilities with which they can effectively discharge their duties.

He said: “As media owners, you have a vital role to play in managing all communications in the public domain in the interest of peace and national development. Let me reiterate my call to you, to work with the other media industries in Nigeria, to make sure that the Nigerian media is not allowed to disrupt but play its traditional role of leading the way in the process of protecting public interest for nation-building.

“Secondly, it is to also understand the character of the media so that we don’t misunderstand issues. We should be able to accommodate them; we should be able to understand their disposition, attitude, and the nature of issues in this country especially when different ethnic nationalities, leaders of tribal and ethnic organisations. I think this is the time that the media should be able to make them come together and talk ‘One Nigeria.’”

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Adesina, while describing the newly inducted chairman and vice as consuming professionals, urged them to ensure unity of the country through their broadcast.

He also expressed optimism that during their tenure, there would be a lot of improvements in the broadcasting industry in terms of professionalism.

Adesina said: “I’m glad that the DG of NBC is here, he knows the running battle that the NBC had had particularly with the broadcast stations in the country. You are driving in your car and you put on the radio in your car, the things that are coming from the station you can’t believe. You can’t believe that such things would be on the airwaves; some on television, you can’t just understand how people who are allowed to speak on national television will say some things.

“I think BON needs to look into this and I believe that if any set of people can do something about it, the incoming chairman and vice chairman can. BON members need to collectively ensure that we have a country. Senator Abaribe is not in terms of a circle, the entire country; we need to have a country and if we are going to have a country that will be united and will be one, broadcasting has a very big role to play.”

In his acceptance speech, BON Chairman, Ugbe, who rolled out a four-point agenda, reiterated his commitment towards prioritising training and development by sourcing for training opportunities for BON members to deepen their technical knowledge and competent skills, working with local and foreign partners.

He pledged resolve towards the establishment of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters, adding that most professions have accreditation organisations that set standards for entry, retraining, and the code of conduct.

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Follow us on: