A Kaduna based broadcasting medium, DITV-Alheri Radio, has allegedly sacked one of its staff members for supporting President Buhari in a post he made on social media.
The media house is reportedly owned by a former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ally, Hakim Baba-Ahmed.
Daily Nigerian reports that Mr Baba-Ahmed was co-agent to President Buhari during the 2015 elections before defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He is now the Chief of Staff to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, another arch-rival of Mr Buhari.
It was gathered that Umar Ridwan, the presenter of Youth and ‘Gari ya waye’ programs, was sacked on a post he made on his Facebook page concerning the activities of President Buhari under the platform of APC.
Umar Ridwan and Hakim Baba-AhmedIn the letter dated October 15, the organisation terminated Mr Ridwan’s appointment without stating clearly the offence(s) the employee had committed before the sacking.
However, when contacted, Mr Ridwan pointed out that his sacking might not be unconnected with a post he made on his personal Facebook page concerning the activities of President Buhari under the platform of APC, which allegedly angered the proprietor.
According to him, the station had earlier given him 2 weeks suspension for posting political matters on his personal social media pages.
“After some consultations with industrial law experts, I discovered that the station has no right whatsoever to interfere with my personal activities, as long as it does not affect my duty as a presenter.
“So, on my resumption from the suspension, I shared a Tweet on the defunct Nigerian Airways pensioners’ fund release, posted by the Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed, the management apparently got angry and decided to fire me.
“After a few days, I was called to come and pick a letter. I was then given a letter which stated that my services are not needed. I was also given a one-month salary, with no allowances,” Mr Ridwan narrated.
However, when the management of the station was contacted, the Head of News and Current affairs, Shuaibu Gimi who spoke on behalf of the Head Administration and Finance, Rahmatu Jafar, said DITV-Alheri Radio as a private company, reserves the right to sack any employee they no longer require his/her services.
“We have fulfilled our contract with the law states. We have paid him his entitlements, including payment of 1month arrears salary,” Mr Gimi said.
