Imported User:
Following the retirement of the former director-general of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Usman Magawata, early this month, over 60 people are said to be lobbying the presidency for the job.
A LEADERSHIP source in the television house, who would not want her name mentioned, said the number of those who want to head the station was swelling by the day.
According to the source, the lobbyists include a broadcaster with the NTA, Mrs Moji Makanjuola; former spokesman of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ima Niboro; Ben Murray Bruce, owner of Silverbird Television and one-time DG of NTA; singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu, who also was formerly on the NTA board; Eugenia Abu; and the former DG of the station, Tony Iredia.
LEADERSHIP also gathered that most of the executive directors are in the race for the top job. Our source said the battle is between the senior in-house staff and those outside, though there are fears that the in-house management staff lack the political clout to secure the job.
Other contenders are Sienne Allwell-Brown, former broadcaster with NTA and currently the general-manager, external affairs, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas; and the immediate past director-general, Usman Magawata, who wants to return on political appointment.
Magawata was appointed DG of NTA in 2008. He was until then the executive director, news, at the station. He succeeded Tonie Iredia whose tenure was ended abruptly by the Yar’Adua administration. Despite serving the mandatory retirement notice, Magawata departed NTA without his replacement announced by government.
