Information Commissioner Discredits Media Reports Implicating Soludo Of Taxing Peter Obi’s Billboards
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, has discredited media reports involving Governor Chukwuma Soludo of taxing Mr. Peter Obi’s billboards and authorizing Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, ANSAA, to remove the boards.
In a press release, Sir Paul recalled that last two weeks; ANSAA sent out a letter to the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria on the need for members to provide data on every advertisement structure they have in the state for enumeration purposes, while a press release was issued afterwards to inform the general public, especially politicians, who have their adverts running on such assets that the exercise was on.
He regretted that the well-intentioned release was misrepresented by a section of the media which he said introduced damaging narrative against the Governor of the state and the advertising agency.
Commissioner Nwosu stated that Professor Soludo is the only Governor in Nigeria today who has ordered advertising and signage agency to create a level playing ground for all political parties in the upcoming general elections, and that Mr. Obi is the only politician that was given hundred percent access to the overhead directional signs and gantries in the state to display his political campaign messages.
He pointed out that if Governor Soludo had given such malicious directive to ANSAA as alleged, Mr. Peter Obi wouldn’t have enjoyed such exclusive exposure in the state and media that is totally regulated by the government.
The Information Commissioner made it clear that Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency is a responsible organization that is focused on delivering world class services to outdoor advertising practitioners and other clients in Anambra State, irrespective of their political leanings, provided they pay their bills and abide by the ethics.
