POINTER NEWSPAPER CRISIS: FMR GOV. UDUAGHAN HANDS ARE CLEAN

As rumors fly like missles that former governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan refused to pay the printers of the state owned newspaper, The Pointer, to enable him float his own personal newspaper, facts have emerged that he not only paid the printers before he left office, but that he has no intention of floating a media house.

Vanguard Newspaper Group owned by veteran Journalist, Sam Amuka had been printing The Pointer since the past few years under a contractual agreement. The Pointer had shut down for over three days this week. This followed the refusal of the management of Vanguard to print the State Newspaper, reportedly as a result of huge debt overhang.
It was reported in the Social Media and some National Dailies that the administration of the former Governor of the State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan owed the Printing Company some money running into millions of Naira.

Investigations have however revealed that the reports are totally false and baseless. Checks by our Reporter confirmed that Uduaghan administration paid Vanguard promptly for the printing of The Pointer until his exit on May 29, 2015. A top management staff of the State Newspaper who craved anonymity, said the problem of The Pointer Newspaper started after Uduaghan left office as he never owed for the printing of the Paper.

The top Editorial staff said the linkage of Dr Uduaghan with the current woes of The Pointer, smacks of mischievous reporting and irresponsible journalism. According to him, “Under Uduaghan, Pointer did not suffer any major setback. The paper never went off the streets even in the face of challenges. He even approved weigh-in allowance for workers of the establishment to boost their welfare”. He concluded that “Pointer witnessed unprecedented transformation under the Uduaghan administration”, and dismissed the debt story as nonsensical.

This was also confirmed by a source in Vanguard at its Asaba Printing Plant who said the Delta State Government under Uduaghan, was their most reliable client.

On the issue of stifling the State-run Newspaper and Delta Broadcasting Service to gain advantage favourable to Trend FM Asaba,, reportedly owned by Dr Uduaghan, our investigations have also confirmed that there is no iota of truth in the allegations. Sources from various quarters said he tried his best to reposition the State media outfits and also has no financial interest in Trend FM which just began operation in the State capital. The Trend FM is owned by Agatha Amata of the Inside Out fame.

Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has remained out of public view since his exit as Governor, but occasionally calling for support for his Successor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in the governance of the oil rich state.