Nigeria: the perils of success

Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi was fired from his post as director of the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), the country's largest newspaper group. Ogunbiyi succeeded in improving the paper in terms of substance, circulation and profits. However, his termination was announced by Information Minister Alex Akinyele following the publication of a front page story on Nobel prizewinner Wole Soyinka criticizing the voting system initiated by General Ibrahim Babangida. Akinyele was believed to be getting even with Ogunbiyi for the latter's refusal to fire deputy editor Ndaeyo Uko.