Open Letter To Bayo Onanuga by Richard Akinola

 

Richard Akinola 

Popular Nigerian journalist and a lawyer, Mr Richard Akinola has written an open letter to Mr Bayo Onanuga, a veteran journalist and well known civil rights activist who is now the spokesperson for Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council over Onanuga’s sudden departure from principles he once espoused. 

Bayo Onanuga

Onanuga who fought the military junta of the late General Sani Abacha to its knee was a formidable activist who put his life on the line but escaped death by the whisker when some military goons swooped on him on the so-called order from above to terrorize his family.

In the letter, Mr Akinola expressed his dissatisfaction over Onanuga’s attempts to stifle the freedom of speech which Onanuga himself once fought for. Onanuga had written a letter to the NBC asking to sanction the Channel Tv over the handling of Mr Datti Ahmed’s interview with the station. 

It’s so surprising that despite Mr Seun Okinbaloye’s handling of the interview with decorum, Onanuga was still not satisfied. The TV station was later fined five million Naira.

Mr Okinbaloye in his statement later said that no amount of intimidation will silence the voice of the truth.

Here is  Akinola’s full message in his open letter :

Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr Olu Onagoruwa (both of blessed memories) were the best of friends for several years but that friendship was truncated when the latter decided to join the Abacha junta as the Attorney-General, churning out despicable decrees. Their relationship ended and Gani publicly upbraided his erstwhile friend.

You and l have been friends for several years, fought many battles together against the military, particularly against their onslaught on the free press. I, therefore, feel terribly pained that l have to publicly upbraid you for your recent public statements, particularly your petition against Channels TV, to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Et tu, Bayo? I’m still trying to wrap my head around your sudden 360 degrees against all you fought for under the military. You are yet to be in government and you have started exhibiting intolerance against the independent media, the same thing you fought for all your years, like Dr Onagoruwa did. I’m sure your principal, who has been a lover of a free press, would be embarrassed by your position.

I watched the interview under reference and l must say, you are VERY UNFAIR to Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor man who repeatedly cautioned Datti Ahmed for making some seemingly inciting comments, to the anger and discomfiture of Datti Ahmed. So, in all conscience, what then is the basis of your petition to the NBC?

Can you compare that to your recent incendiary post against an ethnic group? Why are you making enemies for your principal, instead of friends, in a country so polarized? While your principal is preaching unity and healing, you are busy trying to make more enemies for him. Yesterday, it was ARISE, today, it is CHANNELS. Is that a foretaste of what to experience in the incoming government? So, we should be fixated on NTA and TVC, isn’t that what you are trying to tell proverbially? To say that I’m totally embarrassed by your silly conduct would be stating it mildly.

For eight years, despite all vitriolic attacks on the president, Femi Adesina, as Special Adviser, Media to the president, did not petition against any medium but you wey never enter, don dey censor the media. What a shame! I can expect the disaster that awaits us if you become the presidential spokesperson. Do l subscribe to unfettered press freedom? No. I believe every freedom comes with responsibility. However, when you create a perception that the incoming government would be intolerant of the free press, we need to sound the alarm bell.

My dear Bayo, it is often said that until a man tastes power or has access to money, you can’t judge his character. That may not be totally true because one of our mutual friends, Tunji Bello, has tasted both but has been the normal self that l have known for over three decades. His decent character has not changed, in and out of government. So, could it be that your real character is just unfolding? Just because you are now at the periphery of power, you are ready to obliterate all the values and principles you held all these years. What a shame!

TAKE NOTICE that we would fight this your planned “insurrection” against the independent media the way we, including you, fought Abacha’s dictatorship against the media.

Richard Akinnola

 

Postscriptum: Before l wrote this open letter, l had informed some of our mutual friends so that they won’t feel embarrassed.

My dear Bayo, it is often said that until a man tastes power or has access to money, you can’t judge his character. That may not be totally true because one of our mutual friends, Tunji Bello, has tasted both but has been the normal self that l have known for over three decades. His decent character has not changed, in and out of government. So, could it be that your real character is just unfolding? Just because you are now at the periphery of power, you are ready to obliterate all the values and principles you held all these years. What a shame!

 

TAKE NOTICE that we would fight this your planned “insurrection” against the independent media the way we, including you, fought Abacha’s dictatorship against the media.

Richard Akinnola

 

Postscriptum: Before l wrote this open letter, l had informed some of our mutual friends so that they won’t feel embarrassed.