Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, declared that only a restructured Nigeria will help the nation regain her past glory.
Makinde, who was speaking at the unveiling of a homegrown digital television outfit, SATVIEW Network, stated that it was unbelievable that Nigeria, which had the first television station in Africa, now has to rely on foreign television networks if its people must watch clear signals.
He stated that his administration will continue to identify, encourage and support talented and creative-minded youths to grow businesses in the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, quoted Governor Makinde as saying that the push for a restructured Nigeria is aimed at making it regain the series of firsts recorded by the first generation leaders.
He said: “So, I came here today to let our people know that all is not lost. We are pushing for a restructured country because when we achieved all of these firsts, the country was not overcentralised at that time. We believe that when we push through the agenda to restructure the country, we will be in a better position for people to unleash their talents, not just the local economy, but also to place us where we really belong in the comity of nations right across Africa.”
Speaking at the launch of the digital broadcast channel, held at the SATVIEW Network headquarters, Ring Road, Ibadan, the governor said that he will continue to tap into the potentials of the talented ones and give them necessary support to thrive in their chosen fields.
The governor stated: “So, the SATView Network is not the first network to bring programme to our people but what is unique about this offering is, once you buy the decoder, you are not going to pay any money. That is the difference. “Oyo State, Ibadan precisely, hosted the first TV station in Africa. Almost all of us here have DSTV at home and the money we are paying to DSTV is going directly to South Africa because that is where the parent home is.
“We missed the road but we believe that, with the talents that we have, if we nurture them, we can get our position back as truly the first in Africa.”
He eulogized the contributions of coalition party members in the build-up to his election in 2019, adding that Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Pastor Akin Alamu, and his colleagues in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) stood out.
He also said that since Alamu was chosen as TESCOM chairman, he has had no reason to second-guess his duties.
He said: “I saw a replica of myself coming up in SATVIEW NETWORK. I started my private business at 29 and it is still in existence today. So, I want to encourage the management and other members of staff that this may be a small beginning but you can change the world with it.
“I came here to, first of all, validate my position that there are several young talents within us that we need to encourage. They may be doing their things in the smallest of our villages, I will go there, seek them out and support them.
He commended Pastor Alamu for withstanding harassment and intimidation during the 2019 election, adding that though “voters were threatened not to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the man’s polling unit, he withstood the challenge and voted his conscience.
“They told everybody (in his polling unit) that, look, if you don’t want to vote APC here today, leave. “But Baba said such cannot happen because he was supposed to vote there and would not disclose whom he wanted to vote for. So, Baba voted because they saw him as an elderly person. But they saw that Baba voted for PDP and did not leave there.
“Anyway, majority of the people there voted APC. Out of about 60 people, it was only Baba that said he was going to vote for his conscience and they allowed him. They tried to harass him but he stood his ground. “Majority of the people voted APC. Because of Baba’s presence, they voided all the other ballot papers and when they counted the actual votes I think we got 24 votes”.
He asked the aggrieved members of the PDP not to work against him as the only PDP governor in the South West, adding that doing so would go against the interest of the party in the zone and, in any case, such a move stood against the grain of good sense.
In his welcome address, the Chairman/CEO, Dexterity Group, Dexter Femi Akin-Alamu, said that SATVIEW was dedicated to shaping the mind and thoughts of the people, adding that the network will bring quality contents to the people of the state and nation in general.
He said: “We are ready to effectively use the media to shape the minds and thoughts of the people of our nation.
“America is where it is today because of the types of messages that the media spread to the people of the nation. And we believe that a new Nigeria will be born.
“We are dedicated in bringing quality content coming from our platform. It is adding to the portfolio of Oyo State series of firsts.
“We are presently running 58 channels on the decoder we are launching this morning. Over the last three years, we have continued to ask Nigerians what they want to be seeing on TV and we have done too well to introduce channels you have told us you want to see. We have six entertainment channels, movie channels from Bollywood and our own Nollywood.
“Another unique feature is our educational and family bouquet channels. The school children will have the opportunity to watch subjects taught in accordance with Nigerian curriculum on satellite TV”, he concluded.
