Atiku, Dogara, senators, govs, felicitate with The Sun at 15

Job Osazuwa

As The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun and Sporting Sun marks its 15 anniversary, prominent Nigerians, including governors, federal lawmakers, have continued to rejoice with the newspaper.

The Sun hit the news stand on January 18, 2003 as a weekly. Heeding readers’ yearnings for more, the newspaper went daily in June 2003.

Among those who felicitated with The Sun are: former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar;  Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Others include governments of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Osun, Oyo, Enugu, Anambra and Imo states.

In his congratulatory message, Atiku urged The Sun to “neither dim nor set. As you turn 15, my wish and prayers are that you will keep rising, while bearing your light over any darkness which won’t allow Nigeria’s sun to shine to the maximum glow.”

Dogara, on his part, said: “It’s been 15 years of wonderful journalism,” and praised The Sun for “innovative journalism and fearless reporting.”

Asking The Sun “to keep the flag flying in the service of our nation and humanity,” Makarfi declared: “Together, we can make Nigeria work again.”

Ekweremadu said he was proud of the trail-blazing feat of the newspaper in the last 15 years, “through the practice of robust and developmental journalism,” and urged The Sun“to continue to excel and expand in stature and influence, to contribute more to building a Nigeria of Nigerians’ dreams.”

On his part, Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State said The Sun had “added value to journalism, through its elaborate reportage, democratised information and has shown that it is an important stakeholder in the Nigerian project.”

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom praised The Sun for living up to its motto, “Voice of the Nation,” having excelled in giving “Nigerians a voice in the affairs of the nation.” 

He urge the newspaper to continue “to practise progressive journalism for a better society.”

Secretary to Oyo State Government, Olalekan Alli, on behalf of the state government, commended The Sun for “innovative journalism and fearless reporting,” and added: “You have performed your social responsibility of informing, educating, enlightening and entertaining creditably well and your contributions to the growth of the country has added the necessary impetus to the sustenance of democracy.”

Imo State government, through a message signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo,  said: “No doubt, for the 15 years, The Sun has given good account of itself and the success story of the company and its products would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the management and staff.

“The Sun has done well to be celebrated and the government and people of the state would continue to associate with the medium.”

Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, commanded The Sun for its feats in the last 15 years.

He said: “Like the cosmic sun, The Sun newspapers has, in the last 15 years, illuminated our country, with its exciting, incisive and excellent news reportage, editorials, interviews and analyses.”

He enjoined The Sun, in the coming years, “to continue to shine and to, fearlessly, perform the constitutionally provided duty of holding government accountable.”