Nduka Obaigbena Moves To Strengthen Thisday Newspaper As Plot To Cage Him Thickens

…inside ongoing scrutiny of all his past deals

Whispers filtering in to societynowng.com revealed flamboyant publisher Nduka Obaigbena is on strategic mission – strengthening his claim to fame, Thisday Newspaper.

The move is said to be aimed at shoring up his wealth of influence and clout societynowg.com learnt.

‘’With what is coming his way, he needs all the leverage he would be able to muster’’ a source stated.

Snatches of information here and there revealed a plot to cage the popular publisher said to posses ‘’dirts’’ on this and that occupier of public office is on. Nduka Obaigbena
And according to a source, the strategy is simple – put him on the defensive.

‘’The specific ploy is to raise questions on his past dealings’’ societynowng.com learnt.

According to picture pieced together by societynowng.com, a sample what is in the offing came to light in the drama of his linkage to receiving payments from the ill gotten mega sums from the much celebrated phony arms deal.

The newspaper man with a larger than life image managed to wriggle out of a possible arrest and detention with agreement to pay back the N670million traced to him.

His return of N350million and undertaken to pay the balance within two weeks, after a public antic that dragged virtually all news paper companies into the mess, ensured he remains a free man – for now.

Informants claim authorities are scrutinizing other ”dealings with past administrations, to see if there are any other cases like that of the arms deal…the aim is to ask questions where necessary” a source stated.

Societynowng.com however learnt the move is to cage the influence of the President of Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria by putting him on the defensive.

”Nduka has managed to build a stature and devise means to become formidable influence in every administration which makes him a force to be reckoned with… someone or some people have seen through the ploy and want to turn the table on him.

”Questions about his past dealings will keep him on the defensive and so much on his toes, he wouldn’t have the chance to become a force that threatens or intimidates other powers” a source analyses

Digs by societynowng.com however revealed that the publisher appears to have seen the handwriting on the wall, and embraced a fall back option.

He is said to have initiated moves to strengthen his newspaper titles Thisday.

‘He wants it to have stronger bites in key areas of political, economic and societal reportage’ societynowng.com learnt.

‘You know with stronger bites come stronger influence…and clout for the owner’ another source divulged.

And in house ‘refocusing’ of sort is said to be currently on at the Newspaper.

Further digs revealed already Lanre Alfred, pioneer Society Editor who resigned to birth and build the dream of fledging online platform, ‘Thecapital’ has been lured back as ”contributor”

His brief is to compete with his past exploits in adding colour and influence to the weekend titles with a new society offering ‘Hi-life’.

Societynowng.com learnt another ex staffer with strong tentacles in the financial sector is being considered to firm up reportage in that area.

”With his hand on government’s pulse in 16years of People’s Democratic Party’s rule Nduka unconsciously let his newspaper slide into a platform that gave about 90% of its staffers relevance… now he wants to reverse the trend and is shopping for workers that would give the paper relevance with the push and hard work required to be loved and feared!” An insider provided insight.

Additional digs by societynowng.com could however not decipher plans for the papers as regards focus on political issues.

Societynowng.com learnt the publisher is acting on conviction a return to reckoning of the paper naturally brings respect that would help keep his ‘problems’ at bay.

”Whether he has left it too late or not remains a matter of time” a source opined.