Quit Notice: Dokpesi’s AIT begs Gov Wike not to demolish media house
The administrative authority of Daar Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television/Raypower Radio, has appealed to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike not to demolish its building in the state.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has issued a 48 hour quit notice to owners of buildings in GRA Phase 5 in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, including Daar Communications, which owns AIT/Raypower television and radio stations.
This came following the governor’s order to demolish the building which has been earmarked for a state project.
In a quit notice dated Tuesday, March 21 and signed by the permanent secretary of the state ministry of works, Ebere Dennis Emenike, the concerned were given 48 hours to yield to the notice.
The notice read: “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”.
The Head of Centre, Daar Communications PLC, Port Harcourt, Remi Olu Akerele in a statement released on Friday March 24, said the Governor should have a rethink its decision to demolish the building.
She said about 80 percent workforce who are citizens of the hosting community, Ozuoba in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area would lose their jobs if the building is demolished.
She said the demolition notice was pasted on the company’s building without any additional information.
However, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed to the Governor not to demolish the structure which houses facilities of the AIT/Raypower media outfit.
The appeal was extended to the Governor through a press statement jointly signed by the chairman of NUJ, Stanley Job Stanley and its secretary, Ike Wigodo in the state,
The statement reads: “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.”
