A renowned business mogul and publisher of the defunct Third Eye newspaper, Chief Akanni Aluko, has come against the sponsor of the controversial media bill, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, saying that rather than impress President Muhammadu Buhari, the bill will make more enemies for the President.
Speaking with journalists while celebrating his 78th birthday in Ibadan, the elder statesman said that unfortunately for the sponsor of the draconian bill, the President cannot do anything that could suppress, bully, or criminalise the media.
Aluko averred that even if passed by the National Assembly, it is certain that the President can never assent to such obnoxious bill meant to strangulate the media, which he described as the oxygen of the nation’s democracy.
He maintained that while the sponsor of the bill has said activities on the controversial bill have been suspended temporarily, his intention is to silence the media and render it powerless.
The elder statesman said, “Today is a milestone in my life, very wonderful and I thank only God for allowing me to reach 78. It has not been easy, I have been ill for the past 21 years, and look at me as if nothing has been wrong, except for few things, but God is taking care and I must continue to thank God for this wonderful gift of life.”
Among eminent Nigerians who felicitated with the celebrant was President Buhari, who, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr.Femi Adesina, paid glowing tributes to the Ijesha-born businessman, who turned 78 years on Friday.
Chief Aluko, who said God should be praised for allowing him to reach the age of 78, stated that Hon.Odebunmi only wanted to impress the President, but he got more than what he bargained for.
While praying to Almighty God to grant Nigerian leaders the wisdom to be able to lead Nigerians aright, he declared that nobody can kill the press.
He said, “He (Hon. Odebunmi) cannot assume what the President wants. He wanted to take the President for granted. But he was wrong. The President is a man of the people, even if the House of Representatives pass such anti-media bill, the President cannot assent to it.
“Instead of making more friends for the President at this critical time, he is interested in making more enemies for the President. So, let’s leave him to that and if he tries again, he will meet his waterloo. You don’t need to kill the press that all of us used to fame.
“And those who are coming can use it to get to the top, so why do you want to kill it? Why can you say because you are in power, you want to use indirect way to kill the press and bring it down, you can’t. The press will still overshadow you. Nobody can stop or gag the press.”
