Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has threatened to demolish the property of Daar Communications, the owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower radio station.
Wike Issues Quit Notice To AIT/Raypower In Rivers, Orders Demolition Of Property Within 48 Hours
Wike issued a 48-hour quit notice to Daar Communications to remove the building housing facilities of the media outfit at Ozuoba area of Port Harcourt or it will be demolished in 48 hours.
The governor gave the ultimatum in a quit notice issued signed by Mrs. Ebere Dennis Emenike, Permanent Secretary of the Rivers Ministry of Works Government dated Tuesday March 21.
Wike claimed that the building is one of the structures marked for demolition in GRA Phase 5 in Port Harcourt.
The quit notice reads,
“Following the imminent commencement of GRA Phase 5 project the structures are impacting on the Right Of Way have been earmarked for demolition, including your own.
“Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove Structures within 48 hours to allow for speedy progress of work”.
However, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has appealed to the Government to drop its plan to demolish the structure housing facilities of AIT/Raypower media outfit.
The appeal is contained in a press statement jointly signed by Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo, the chairman and secretary of the NUJ in the state respectively.
The Union noted that the land on which the building housing AIT television and Raypower radio station was built has been a subject of dispute between the Rivers State Government and Daar Communication Plc for sometimes now.
The Council urged the state government to open a negotiation channel with the media organisation for a peaceful resolution.
“We appeal to the Rivers State Government to review the quit notice given to Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station.
“The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners in progress. We believe that proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the Government and people of Rivers State better.
“Whatever the merit of the quit notice by the Rivers State Government to Daar Communications Plc, we would not want the world to see the press in fight with the Rivers State Government in view of our long standing mutual relationship.
“NUJ will not be happy to see a Media House in Rivers State being demolished over a land dispute that can be resolved peacefully and amicably”,
the statement said.
The founder Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpes led the campaign of Atiku Abubakar for the presidential ticket of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
There are speculations that the move to demolish the building is linked to the politics of the 2023 elections between Atiku and Wike.