Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State Tuesday claimed that the immediate past government of the state deliberately killed Radio Kwara in the bid to float their own private radio station.
He said the motive was to incapacitate the state-owned broadcasting station preparatory to setting up their own station as part of the move to attack his government.
He spoke while on an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, owners of Radio Kwara, to access the level of decay in the broadcast outfit.
Both AM and FM stations of Radio Kwara have been in comatose for several months prior to the inauguration of the new governor.
He said it was shameful that capable hands in the state broadcasting station had been rendered redundant, lamenting that the past administration allowed the situation to deteriorate in the station.
Abdulrazaq, however, assured that his government will correct the anomaly, just as he disclosed that he had been informed about the repositioning of the station, which forms part of the measures taken by the immediate past government to effect a turn around in the three state owned media houses including The Herald newspapers and Kwara Television Service.
The repositioning of the three state-owned media houses had received knocks and wide criticism particularly from key stakeholders in the media industry in the state which called for probe.
He assured that the radio station would bounce back soon so as to continue disseminating information to the people of the state.
“I come here with mixed feelings. I am glad to see you in good health, ready to work, unfortunately, the facilities for you to work are in deplorable condition. It’s unfortunate that the past government has allowed the situation to deteriorate this far. We will now have to put a stop to it.
“I have spoken with your management, they told me what the repositioning and situation is. Insha Allah, we will do all our best to make sure that e return as soon as possible.
“It looks like the FM situation is the first that will be mitigated; it is less of a problem compared to AM. The situation you find yourselves here is the same all over the state, and you are not in worst situation than anybody,” the governor noted.
