In the age when media organisations go under before their fifth year anniversary and never resurrect on account of dangerous bumps in the road, the ParrotXtra Media Network has weathered the storm and clocked 20 years of responsible journalism, starting with an evening newspaper called the PM Parrot.
With operational headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the company has played a complimentary role to the existing Tribune and the Sketch (defunct) and built its own community of readers, who are part of its history of perseverance, tolerance and brilliance.
Aside his obstinate determination to carve a niche for himself as a media entrepreneur, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ambassador Yinka Agboola’s profile on the media soil from early 90s stands as source of his strength to have defied the challenges to be on track till today and performing his role as mouthpiece of the suppressed class of the society.
He debuted at the Fame Magazine newsroom. He moved to the Ovation magazine. The Daily Sketch. The Tribune. He also served as deputy chief press secretary to the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, the Oyo State Governor from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003.
While Agboola wouldn’t attribute his tortous but successful journey to his wealth of experience alone, he, however, extended his gratitude to God, whom, he emphasised, piloted him from the starting point and guided his steps to what he called his destined profession despite his study of Archaeology at the University of Ibadan.
“It was God who instructed me to go into it with a strong advice that I should do it as it was expected of me by the public who relied on newspapers reports. God said I shouldn’t use it to fight for myself or blackmail people for pecuniary gains. In fact, when flesh used me at a point, I regretted my action because that wasn’t God’s purpose for me,” he reminisced.
Going more reflective and much more spiritual, the Ibadan-born explained further that God and only God serves as succour whenever he is confronted with career-threatening obstacles, one of which was God’s timely intervention few minutes after he had thrown in the towel and disengaged his workforce and shared with them office items.
At the most unexpected moment, a man of God emerged with a message that turned a catalyst in the history of the company. The clergyman travelled to Agboola’s Ajeigbe office and put smile and tears to his face in a quick succession.
“The Bishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Ogbomosho Diocese, and Chairman, Oyo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rt Rev (Dr) David Ademola Moradeyo opened his boot and brought out N250, 000 to run four pages. That’s advert! That’s a lifeline.
“That’s a real divine intervention. That’s how we were back till date. Now, whether I have money or not, you won’t know because I enjoy what I do, and that is what keeps this our ministry going,” he noted beaming with a light smile.
Given the chocking state of the nation’s economy, the company’s trying days are not yet over. It still struggles to breathe like bigger media organisations in the country and even beyond. This condition notwithstanding, the management has a cause to celebrate, hence the 20th anniversary scheduled to hold on Monday 5 in Ibadan where creme-de-la-creme of the society would converge and felicitate the management for the journey thus far.
What is called the South West Parrot Legacy project will be inaugurated to further clarify the identity of the paper as a South-West, not a national, project. The South West Legacy Leadership Discourse, an annual event, will have its lecture delivered by Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye, who will talk on “South-west: Critical issues to shape the future”. Expected Southwest governors will return home with merit awards as an impetus toencourage them to do more in service delivery. A book, ParrotXtra Compendium, will also be launched while Bonsue Fuji King, Dr Adewale Ayuba will entertain dignitaries, including traditional rulers.
Regrettably, Agboola remarked that the media is becoming more susceptible with ethical practice made to suffer in face of the reality, especially survival, frankly admitting that “the media has crashed”. He recalls that exclusive stories determined ratings of newspapers in the past but that culture belongs to the archive now, saying journalists are no longer encouraged to publish exclusive stories because of hazards surrounding exclusive stories.
He reveals, “Here, our interviews are our exclusives. We play safe and do practical journalism. We can’t afford to play to the gallery and eventually get our fingers burnt. Truth is that the system will kill you physically, financially.
“Those that clap for you shall look the other way and leave you to carry your cross alone. It is slippery terrain. Where is the institution to defend you? My brother, we have seen enough to teach us that we need to be as realistic as we should.”
However, hope is not lost, according to him. Agboola believes that a time may come when those he calls radical youth would rise and fix Nigeria.
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