The Dasuki just keeps giving birth to different twists and turns – with the latest being the stepping aside from the Nduka Obaigbena-led Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, over their involvement in the mess.
NPAN, it would be recalled, got N120 million from Col. Sambo Dasuki, former NSA. The money was supposed to be shared to newspaper owners who suffered some loss under ex President Goodluck Jonathan. But not withstanding that Punch was also affected, they declined the N10 million apiece. And now this bombshell from their Chairman, Mr. Wale Aboderin: ‘ After a careful review of the recent, and still unfolding developments, Punch Nigeria Limited is suspending its membership of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria until further notice. This suspension takes immediate effect…’
According to their disengagement letter dated December 17, 2015, we ‘will ONLY reconsider our withdrawal from NPAN when the critical issues, which we, and other concerned stakeholders, have raised are addressed.’
Again, Punch Nigeria Limited is insisting than NPAN must be rebuilt and refocused.