The President of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, FCFMT Alumni Association, Capt. Rotimi Williams Ogunsakin has distanced himself from a publication on one of the prominent maritime based newspapers (name withheld) published on June 3, 2024 with the headline: “The First Set Of NSDP Cadets That NIMASA Trained We’re Mostly Militants”, describing it as a misplaced publication.
Ogunsakin who made this known in a rebuttal he sent to Primetime Reporters stated that he was quoted out of context. He contested that it was important to situate the interview he granted to a correspondent of the said newspaper in April 2023 when he was newly elected as the President of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology Alumni Association.
According to him, “The purpose of the interview was to talk about my vision and programmes for FCFMT as a new President of its Alumni Association. And on the sidelines, the interviewer also asked about my opinion on the NSDP programme which in my response, I highlighted the urgent need for the then leadership of NIMASA to provide job for the cadets trained by various maritime institutions and the NSDP in order to reduce the high rate of terrorism and piracy at sea because those guys were vulnerable to join any form of social vices.
“Hence the context and purpose of the interview was not intended to cast aspersion on the NIMASA sponsored NSDP initiative or its beneficiaries as the purported report portrayed.
“The publisher of Shipping Position Daily seems to be fighting a personal battle against the current NIMASA leadership for obvious selfish reasons and looking for a news angle to weaponize in his fight. Otherwise, how does he explain the rationale behind resurrecting and reusing a media interview granted to his reporter over a year ago which has already been published then.
“This is a clear pointer that there’s more to this publication than what he’s telling us. Hence, I take exception to this publication and what it portrays as well as the ulterior motive the publisher aims to achieve with this misplaced and stale news story.
“In view of this, I wish to rebut, discredit, and distance myself from whatever agenda the publisher is set to achieve with this misplaced publication. I therefore urge the general public, especially maritime stakeholders to disregard the publication which was meant to damage my reputation and pitch me against the new leadership of NIMASA having quoted me out of context.
“I hope the publisher retraces his steps and uses his news publications for positive impacts rather than selfish reasons and fighting perceived enemies. I will not hesitate to make further statements or seek legal redress if the need arises.”
Photo: Capt. Rotimi Williams Ogunsakin, President, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
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