Opinions of Thursday, 10 December 2015

Auteur: The Median Newspaper

Re: For whom does Peter Essoka really reflect?

I read with rapt attention an article titled “For whom does Peter Essoka really reflect?”, written by a certain Douglas A. Achingale and published on page four of the issue no. 173 of Monday 30 November 2015, of your very authoritative and widely read newspaper.

First of all, I congratulate Achingale on his ability to address such a pertinent issue and the skill with which he crafted the write-up. I must admit that it is not every day we find articles so well written in our local newspapers. Second, I hail your courage to publish the article which took to task the “almighty” president of the National Communication Council, NCC.

To be candid, it is like Achingale stole the idea of penning that article from my mind. I had always planned to do such a piece because Peter Essoka’s “Reflections” are becoming more boring to listen than otherwise. Besides all what Achingale said in his article, Essoka over-personalizes the “Reflections”, making me wonder what his personal life and experiences have got to do with the rest of Cameroonians.

That, to me, is what lack of inspiration and writing “for the purpose of meeting deadlines”, as Achingale puts it, can do to a person’s writing. The suggestion that he should take his time and present the slot just once a week is a most welcome idea. In that way, Peter Essoka will surely be at his best.

If he does not want to do it as suggested, then he better puts an end to the slot. He better stops disturbing listeners of “Morning Safari” because that programme is like bible lessons to us listeners.

In fact, AmadouVamoulké, the DG of CRTV, should rethink his retention of the retired Essoka at CRTV. If the DG’s aim was to let Essoka have some extra money at his retirement, he should be reminded that the veteran journalist has since had a full salary following his recruitment at the NCC. He should equally be reminded that, that salary has been made fatter thanks to his recent appointment as president of this structure.
No malice intended.

Yours truly,

Franklin DingaSambit

Master’s student, UNIYAO I