ABEOKUTA: Promoters of the popular monthly interview discourse, Boiling Point Arena, has conveyed deep appreciation to the Media and Nigerians generally for buying-in into the programme on consistent basis.
Since its debut in November 2022, the once-in-a-month current affairs programme has an unbroken track record of hosting 26 editions, with the latest being the live interview of former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Sunday.
The Obasanjo Interview was hosted on Zoom and transmitted live by London-based Ben TV as well as three radio stations, WASH 94.9FM, Lagos, Sweet 107.1FM, Abeokuta and Eagle 7 Radio 103.7FM, Wasimi.
Boiling Point Arena is the brainchild of a seasoned media professional and public relations strategist, Dr Ayo Arowojolu who parades 34 years career experience spanning the media, banking and education sectors.
Buoyed up by the successes clinched so far in particular the Obasanjo live interview, the Convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu has thanked the media and avid followers of the programme for their consistent support.
Arowojolu pledged to remain focussed and consistent in his advocacy for good governance and the betterment of the Nigerian nation.
He assured stakeholders of the monthly programme that, as news content creators, he would not lower down the bar of robust discussion and quality of guests on the show.
Frontline traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola plays a unique role in every month’s edition of the programme as Keynote Speaker in his capacity as Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.
Boiling Point, a news and general interest group comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 Professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.
The Daily Crucible reports that during the ‘zoom interview,’ the ex – president among other things, said that war against corruption in the country must start from the top to achieve success against the hydrae headed malaise.
The elder statesman also said that given the complex nature of corruption, he recommended that the battle should neither be taken as a one – day affair nor a one-regime matter.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head, that is where corruption has to be fought from. Corruption is very hydra-headed and eats deep,” he said.
“I think it was the Sultan of Sokoto, the father of the present Sultan, who said corruption is like a ‘Babariga’. If you are folding it on one side, it’s falling apart on the other side.
“When you carry it on both sides, you cannot hold your hands up and as soon as you put your hands down, it’s falling apart.
“It’s not a one-day affair. It’s not a one-regime affair. It’s not even a two-regime affair. It has to be consistent. It has to be continual. It has to be a daily affair. Once one regime is let off, it spreads.”
Obasanjo equally identified the place of God in making leaders, arguing that leaders emplaced by God often brings about successful administrations.
He, however, posited that not all leaders are made by God, recalling from the Bible that even Satan, being a stubborn spirit, can also enthrone leaders.
“So I will say most leaders are prepared by God and they are put in place by God. And when that happens, the chances of success are higher than when you make yourself a leader which may not be the act of God.
“And again people saying all leaders are made by God, I don’t accept that. A leader can also be made by Satan. In the case of Job, you can remember Satan was going up and down and went before God and God was commending Job but Satan said Job was upright to God because he had gotten from God.
“We must accept that Satan is real and he has power, he has no salvation but he has power and the power of Satan must not be underrated,” he said.
