Outrage Erupts at Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation as Stunning Appointment Usurps Senior Editor
A seismic uproar has engulfed the Ernest Ikoli Media Complex in Ekeki, Yenagoa, headquarters of the Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation, following a jaw-dropping leadership shakeup.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the organization, Ruth Gwegwe, a staff member from the Ministry of Information, has been thrust into the role of overseer, seizing control in a decision that defies all expectations.
The appointment has ignited fury, particularly as Gwegwe—graded at level 17, step 1—has leapfrogged Peace Sinclair, the seasoned editor of the corporation’s flagship newspaper, New Waves, who stands senior at grade level 17, step 4 and was widely seen as the rightful successor.
Sinclair’s supporters are reeling, calling the move a blatant betrayal of merit and tradition.
The controversy erupted after Preye Wariowei, the Acting General Manager, retired on March 27, 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
However, it was alleged that Wariowei was supposed to have retired three years ago, defaulting on civil service rules, a breach that could land him in serious trouble.
In a stunning handover, Wariowei passed the reins to Gwegwe, shattering norms observed by sister organizations like the Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation and Niger Delta Television, where overseers rarely ascend to such commanding roles.
Critics are up in arms, slamming the decision as a reckless departure from precedent and questioning the shadowy criteria that elevated Gwegwe over Sinclair, whose experience and seniority made her the presumed heir.
Whispers of political interference from the Ministry of Information are growing louder, casting a dark cloud over the corporation’s leadership integrity.
The fallout has triggered a firestorm of demands for transparency and accountability, with stakeholders decrying what they see as a direct assault on the corporation’s commitment to professionalism and fairness.
The public’s eyes are locked on Yenagoa, awaiting answers as tensions boil over.
Adding fuel to the fire is a bitter history: two years ago, the former Commissioner for Information strong-armed Sinclair—then next in line per civil service rules—into yielding her claim to the General Manager’s seat. Trusting the system, Sinclair stepped aside, expecting her moment would arrive on March 27, 2025.
Now, with political gamesmanship apparently derailing her once more, Sinclair is fighting back, demanding justice for what she calls a calculated and repeated theft of her rightful leadership role.
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