It appears cracks have emerged in the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu All Progressives Congress led government in Ondo state, after party's Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro wrote an open letter, accusing the Chairman of the board of Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSRC and Orange fm, Mr. Kunle Adebayo of working for the opposition.
His letter is titled, "OSRC; Arrogance, Pomposity of a Leader … Ineffectiveness, Unprofessional Conduct and Bias Reportage."
Otaloro accused Adebayo of undermining the APC and "doing the bidding of the leadership of his former political party, People's Democratic Party (PDP)."
According to Otaloro, while the OSRC boss has continually given members of the PDP patronage on the state-owned station, he has refused members of the ruling party.
He cited instances of when members of the ruling APC had been billed to appear on the station as guests, but were yanked off by Adebayo.
"The OSRC caretaker chairman is aware that APC as a party is not a money-making venture just like the other political parties that are being given preference over us. On so many occasions, our leaders have been prevented from featuring on some programmes on the stations while some were even being yanked off air when the programme was on on the order of the caretaker Chairman, Kunle Adebayo.
"Among such cases are when the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Gbenga Ale was slated to appear on a programme, Kunle Adebayo abruptly stopped this few minutes to the programme, claiming that the producer of the programme didn't inform him. Being a gentleman, the Chief of Staff didn't bother about the affront of Adebayo.
"Likewise, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose one of our party chieftains and a cerebral woman of substance was yanked off air while an interview conducted for her was on air. The OSRC caretaker chairman's excuse for stopping the interview was because he wasn't briefed ahead.
"Mrs. Olamide Justina Falana, a former governorship candidate who has defected to our party, was prevented by Kunle Adebayo even when she was already in the station's premises for the programme in which she has prepared to speak glowingly about her reasons for defecting to our party and the performances of the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu," Otaloro said.
He also accused the OSRC boss of insubordination towards the Information Commissioner, Yemi Olowolabi, while also being at loggerheads with other members of his board.
"Adebayo displayed insubordination to the position and the person of Mr Gbenga Ale to probably prove a point that he's not under him as he does regularly to the commissioner for information by boasting that his position as the caretaker chairman of OSRC is not an appendage of the commissioner's office.
"The OSRC crew that was on the way to cover the aborted APC governorship primary in Ado Ekiti that could probably had given viewers the exclusive clip of what transpired on that day -the commotion and interview -Materials got would have been a great exclusive archival piece to be used to prevent future recurrence if eventually APC wins the coming election in the state, was immediately ordered by Kunle Adebayo to return to the station querying the reporters what their business was with the APC primary in Ekiti State. Unfortunately, these journalists who could easily read between the lines and knowing the interest of Ondo State in the primary election were prevented from covering the event for posterity and viewers in the state.
"There is no gainsaying that there is a simmering cold war between the caretaker chairman and his co-board members who are celebrated professional broadcasters who he could have ordinarily tapped from their wealth of experience. The duo of Steve Alabi, a renowned sports encyclopaedia and former chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN) and Soji Alakuro, a broadcasting guru and former General Manager of the station.
"Kunle Adebayo's arrogance is undermining the output of the stations as he looks down on all others staffers. This, without any doubt, would make it impossible for the stations to match the huge investment on new equipment made by the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration with maximum quality programming and unbiased and balanced reportage of news events and programmes.
"However, with Kunle Adebayo's determination to frustrate anything and everything that will celebrate APC as a political party, observers are tempted to believe he's doing the bidding of the leadership of his former political party, People's Democratic Party (PDP).
SUNSHINE HERALD noted that since his swearing-in, Olowolabi did not visit the OSRC in his official capacity as the Commissioner for Information until this month.
This might not be unconnected with the alleged rancour between him and Adebayo.
Efforts to speak with Mr. Adebayo failed, as he did not pick his calls when our reporter called him or replied text messages sent to him at the time of filing this report.
