It is no longer News that Cool FM OAP Ifedayo Olarinde aka Daddy Freeze has been sacked by his employers, but it has now been confirmed that the sack is in no way related to his long running feud
with comedian, Basketmouth.
Freeze had reacted to reports suggesting that he was sacked as Head,
On-air Personalities at the station owned by the AIM Group boss, Amin Moussalli, saying this is not true. The luxury wrist watch-loving OAP has also threatened to take legal action against the blogger who dared to suggest it was.
So what’s the story?
Freeze was let go following his failure to
attend a meeting called yesterday by Moussalli to address the drop in
rating experienced by his radio stations; Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and
Nigeria Info. Moussalli had hoped to also address the issue of
presenters fee which advertisers had complained of as a hindrance in
doing business with the stations under the AIM Group umbrella. Many had
accused OAPs of turning them back if they were unable to pay these fees
in addition to that on the company rate card.
OAP at Cool FM was absent from that meeting and did not deem it fit to
send in a representative. Popular OAP, Yaw of Wazobia
FM who heads the OAP on that station was also said to have been absent
from the meeting but got represented by another Wazobia OAP, Lolo, while Tolu Adeleru-Balogun of Nigeria Info was said to have been present at the meeting.
Sources say this action irked the management of the company which informed the decision to let Freeze go.
Moussalli was said to have complained about OAPs refusing to follow
due process and choosing to “act like gods”. The MD reportedly sent a
memo to all staff telling them that all he requires from is their
“commitment and dedication” and anyone who cannot abide by the rules
should find his or her way out.
In the said mail, Mousalli, who many have described as erratic,
specifically mentioned some staff who need to watch their step moving
forward – with Yaw and Mannie’s names being prominent on that list.
Reports say the Lebanese born businessman who built the AIM Group
right from the scratch with the help of his wife sent a separate memo to
staff today saying he has received many entreaties from Freeze’s
representative begging him to rescind his decision but he remained
adamant.
It is however, not clear what direction Freeze, who has worked at
Cool FM for 15 years will choose to take. For someone who has made
public his plans to retire at the station, this might be a little too
much to take.
“Loyalty does not mean anything to the MD,” said a former staff of
Cool FM, who spoke with YNaija correspondent. “You should go and ask Darey
and Olisa Adibua what happened to them. He can just decide to do
anything at any time,” the source said.
Freeze is yet to speak on the circumstances that led to his sack.
Let’s tell you about Mr Amin Mousalli!
Mr Amin Mousalli is the wealthy founder of Nigeria’s leading radio
stations Cool FM, Nigeria Info 99.3 FM and Wazobia FM, popular
confectionery company, Chocolat Royal that was sealed by NAFDAC last
year over alleged sale of expired food products, businesses he has been
running successfully with his daughters. One of them got married
earlier this year.
Amin’s daughter Evita Moussalli and husband Serge Noujaim |