Is Rave FM Owner an Appointee of Governor Adeleke?

By Segun Oladapo

I have carefully read the reaction of Rave FM 91.7 FM Osogbo to my Opinion on what I described as the deeply rooted unprofessional and biased conduct of the station.

In that article, I raised several concerns, including the following:

1. That many of the station’s presenters appear partisan, and that their interview style often falls short of professionalism and friendliness expected of a credible media platform.

2. That some presenters—particularly Joshua Adenipekun—frequently refer to legally recognized local government chairmen and councillors of APC extraction as “YES or NO” Chairmen and Councillors.

3. That the owner of the station, Femi Adefila, is an appointee of Ademola Adeleke.

Unfortunately, the head of the station, Peter Agbesimi, who signed the rejoinder on behalf of the station, failed to address these specific and substantive concerns.

Rather than providing clarifications or engaging the issues raised, the station’s response veered off course by attacking the All Progressives Congress with rather uncomplimentary and gutter language. This approach does little to reassure the public of the station’s commitment to balance and professionalism.

More troubling is the opening paragraph of the rejoinder, where I was described as a “partisan member of APC or a publicist of the party.” This assertion is not only illogical but also revealing. It raises an important question: how did the station arrive at such a conclusion?

At no point did I present myself as a member of APC or as a representative of the party. On what basis, then, would a station that prides itself as one of the best in Osun State reach such a flawed inference?

Furthermore, while the issue was unfolding and emotions were understandably high, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Foreign and International Affairs made a comment that reinforces the concerns expressed in my article—that the station is in one one accord and operates in partisan alignment with the government in Osun State.

According to him:

“I featured in Oro Oselu and one APC guy tried to call severally but it wasn’t going through until when they begged and used veto to force Joshua Adeyemi Adenipekun to use another phone and connect it with line just for them to go against my interview and submission that day….”

This statement raises serious questions that demand answers. Who exercised “veto power” over Joshua Adenipekun before a caller could be allowed access to the programme? Why should such extraordinary measures be necessary for a caller to participate in what is supposed to be an open and balanced public discourse?

The management of Rave FM 91.7 FM Osogbo must rise above these concerns and address them transparently if the public is to continue holding the station in high regard as a professional and credible media institution. It must also refrain from unhelpful, petty, and jejune name-calling and instead focus on upholding the standards expected of a responsible media organisation.