After Olisa, Dan Foster Leaves 96.9 Cool Fm

The early morning drive to work will never be the same again. The Sunday-Sunday rendezvous will never be the same again. The man that has captured our attention for eight years, thrilling us to no end, and bringing an excitingly new dimension to radio journalism on Cool FM has thrown in the towel.

Yes. Dan Foster, the most celebrated OAP on Cool FM has resigned from his plum job at the station, leaving millions of fans and followers stranded and distraught; and leaving his former employers in shock.

Thankfully, while the Mousalli family, his employers at Cool FM, may have a hard time finding a replacement for him, radio listeners have no cause to fret. Dan is not returning to his native country, America. He's not taking away all we've taught- and given- him in Nigeria. The hilarious talker is allegedly pitching his tent with another radio station in Nigeria.

A very reliable source told E-Punch that Foster, a broadcasting and drama graduate of the Morgan State University in Baltimore, has accepted an offer to be Head of Programmes at Inspiration FM, a new Lagos-based radio station reportedly owned by Intercontinental Bank's Erastus Akingbola. The station, managed by Wale Ewedemi, also a former Cool FM staff, is expected to broadcast from Victoria Island, in Lagos.

Foster's resignation, coming on the heels of Olisa Adibua's departure, has caused many to insinuate that Cool FM may be swimming into troubled waters.

But officials at the station are not taking a nap. A new GM, Charles Supo-Orija, has been called in, and one Keith, also an American who had a brief stint with the station in year 2000, has returned to take over Foster?s Good Morning Nigeria show.

A one-liner signature skit run through his show last Tuesday reads: Keith you?re not funny; you?re not gonna last long. It was meant to be a sarcastic drop, but listeners are already wondering if Keith is fit to step into Dan Foster?s large shoes. He was under so much pressure on September 16, that at 9.48 am, he erroneously announced that the time was ?7.48.”

It is uncertain if any member of staff will be following Foster to Inspiration FM. But over the past few months, Cool FM has lost some of its key players, under different circumstances: founding GM, Chris Ubosi, is allegedly planning to float his own station; Nike Coker, Tyeng Gang, Wale Ewedemi and Wale Akinjogbin ? all of the Abuja office, have all also left to pursue different endeavours.

Speaking on phone with Dan on Wednesday, September 17, he refused to accept or deny that he has left Cool FM. He did not pick later calls nor reply an SMS sent to his mobile.

‘‘He has resigned already. But I can tell you they are giving him a hell of a time,?? a friend close to him told us.

Ironically, all this is happening just when Cool?s 10th anniversary is around the corner. The station commenced broadcast on October 1, 1998.

In 10 years, the owners have been able to establish the company as one of Nigeria?s top FM stations, and the business has expanded to incorporate Cool Caf? and Chocolate royal.

GM Charles Supo-Orika refused to comment when we contacted him on September 17.