By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has taken full control of the Nigerian Observer printing press which management was ceded to consultants by the last administration.
Recall that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration had shut down the State-owned newspaper, The Observer, on June 30 2022, handing over its management to consultants, contractors and his political allies while he redeployed the staff to the Ministry of Information and Communication.
However, the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration had immediately taken steps to rewrite the wrongs of the past, by directing staff of paper to return to work.
He went a step further today to retrieve the printing press controlled by consultants and has handed over same to the management team of The Observer led by its General Manager, Sylvester Oboh.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Mr Fred Itua, directors from the Ministry of Information and Communication were among top government officials who witnessed the handing over.
Hon. Ohobamu said the event was important because the goal was achieved without any altercation, violence or fighting.
He commended the Fountain Brook Publishing Limited led by Chike Madueke for keeping to his words and handing over the printing press back to the Edo State Government.
“When I came on board I said that the primary mandate of Observer is to print which is the dream of the founding fathers. The newspaper gets to the grassroots keeping the people abreast of happenings. We need to feed the people with good news.
“We are all excited to be here today to retrieve the printing press and strategize on training of staff on its operations. We assure Edo people of quality news”, he stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of Fountain Brook Publishing Limited, Mr Chike Madueke said the hand over of the Observer Newspaper printing press to the Edo State Government was the right thing to do, because it is the property of government
“Our concern about the printing press is handling the press. It is divided into three, one is for printing of flex banners; the second one is for printing calendars, books; and the third is for printing newspapers.
“The printing is of high quality. I am here to do the formal handover of the documents and keys to the three printing press. It is Edo State Government’s property”, he stated.
The acting General Manager of the Nigerian Observer Newspaper Oboh Sylvester said the since November 2024, the organization had suffered many challenges one of which was the absence of self-serving printing press.
He noted that Observer is not just a media house but a printing and publishing corporation established by an Act of Parliament. “Since 1968, Observer has been able to project government policy thrust, service institutions and the general public.
“The major tool to do our job had been taken away from us, which is the printing press. We had three in our promises but not able to access any of them. We discovered that there was an agreement. We appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to retrieve our printing press to enable us operate effectively and he has done that”.
