Columns
Building Unity, Character and strength in the Borno council after the election, series…….1

Building Unity, Character and strength in the Borno council after the election, series…….1
Now that the team has been assembled, what next?
By: Sam Kayode
In my closing campaign discuss, I congratulated everyone in advance for choosing wisely. It was a kind of spiritual pronouncement in line with my conviction of positive thinking which I share with Chairman Dauda Ilya. I am an ardent believer in the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and what it stands for. I have never known any union that protects his own since I started practicing three decades ago. That is why I used to wonder why some seemingly renegade proprietors will establish their media outfits and forbid their staff from their rights of application to be members. You should never allow any media owner stop you from learning the ropes of being a thorough bred practitioner through the NUJ. It’s the NUJ that will transform you from an ordinary writer to a journalist.
Hear this, in some states in Nigeria, the NUJ is like a professional pool where organizations send their students on industrial attachment to go learn how to become reporters. They don’t just go to media houses but the nuj has also been recognized as a training ground. In a place like “iwe irohin” house in Abeokuta, students learn so much by being attached to officials like the chair or secretary of the council for instance. They teach them the job and they are present in every news conferences watching and learning how to ask and generate news from news makers. They learn how to walk or talk differently from an ordinary writer and how to be real gentlemen forbidden from physical fights you find in some other unions in Nigeria. They study the ethics and other trainings taught in journalism schools. There is a professional bliss in the air not just the air of cheap wedding parties which ours has been known for after a paltry sum of N15,000. Or a situation in which street urchins take over the compound and litter the place like ours.
In sane climes, devoid of insurgency, the only people that come to unwind have their section and they comport themselves decently or be thrown out. Outsiders or shop owners have no right to tell us how to run the place by hiding behind our generators to smoke weed even in broad daylight. They are given instructions and they obey naturally, choosing their favorite food vendor because of the way colleagues in the Exco comport themselves. The nuj is not the place for open drug taking or free meetings. People pay for the usage of every space for meetings. Meetings under the tree has its price. The one in the hall has its price. Even for parking cars inside the first half, non members should pay as much as N50 and we issue tickets. And that is why you need a security guard who will collect our revenue and remit to the union account on a daily basis. That is the only way we can begin to pick up in this post insurgency era. You will be shocked about how many 50 naira you can make in a day because people will be sure their cars cannot be stolen especially when we have paved the place with interlocking tiles.
Also Read: https://dailypost.ng/2022/10/08/iswap-kills-8-boko-haram-members-seizes-large-quantities-of-ammunition/
We must be able to eliminate a certain category of people from using our space for weddings by moving the price upwards by 100 percent if we are serious about revenue. Members too whose nuclear family must marry can be given rebates that would be decided by congress. If using the space becomes 30k, then we will not be patronized by battalions but well controlled crowds of decent people we can control. We can ask members to pay only 10 percent of that which is 3,000 for a specific number of years. And we build more toilets for nawojians that would be our eyes in the first half. Others too will have their toilets to avoid the excuse of getting into our half.
Congratulations Comrades Abdulsalam and Timothy and other challenges
Gentlemen, sometimes it takes quiet prayers and then “wisdom” which is an ingredient we all need to live in this short life we have before us to succeed. Without wisdom you will never be able to hold on to the philosophy of “truth” which the NUJ and even the guild of editors stands upon. I am happy that chairman Dauda Ilya has been able to exercise his powers by the appointment of two more members to help them build this council with the help of congress to take us to where we should be. Of course one of them Abdulsalam is equally a lawyer, so our first law advise will be coming from within even before going after our recognized legal firm Ayuba Damo and partners who is presently handling the case of the known diabolic woman who’s boka has told her she will still get her way like she did with other excos. God forbid!! That restaurant rightly belongs to our gentlemen nawojians. They are our colleagues and have equal rights like all of us so nobody should second rate them as just women who must only be seen by lying to them about office meant for them. One of the reasons why the last Exco made so many mistakes was because they ignored the advices of these ladies. I was present when the promise of office was made yet they failed to deliver. Who does that to fellow colleagues? Any one who treats them as toys will surely go back to square one by loosing his next election. This is why I want to advise that the nawojians are given a temporary office space with a toilet they can repair and use until that woman is thrown out of their rightful place where they will equally be given competition so that they do not relapse in the type of food they serve to us in their office/restaurant. We need nothing less than ten assorted food outlets in our centre. Not the monopolistic restrictions which that woman is enjoying as a result of dangerous manipulations from her. She can easily poison our members in one swoop if we do not bring in new vendors quickly before the year runs out. I don’t think we need to consult a nutritionist on how to go about it. Set up the press centre committee immediately comrades and let us reel out modalities to them. The Exco can then be able to see the mistakes of the committee if any. Their fundamental business would be generate more funds and report to congress on how much progress they have been making in bringing money.
Advise to the new executive
Comrades now that you have been sworn in, always remember that in this life, we cannot talk about wisdom without “knowledge” . You actually need knowledge of the profession to acquire wisdom. This is because wisdom is the principal ingredient you need to acquire knowledge. It was because Solomon had robust knowledge about the God he was dealing with as a king that he quickly requested for wisdom when asked what he prefers as a gift from his creator. He actually choose wisdom instead of material things because he knew that wisdom should generate material things. Today there is no creed in the world that doesn’t know the story of Solomon the great King who walked the face of this Earth as enshrined in the Bible. Suleiman ended having both before leaving this world back to his Creator as alluded to by the Koran. That is my prayers for Comrade Dauda Ilya and his entire team. You will overflow with wisdom. And God will surely guide you on how to fix immediate needs of the council so that we can enjoy your first congress meeting before Christmas.
Exhausting the grace of the first 100days
There is no law that says the new executive must deliver something within the first 100 days. And this is about three months plus but with what happened to the last executive, nobody will tell them to hurry up. Some of us who have been special advisers of the NUJ at large just believe that you cannot as an Exco be able to make impact without taking care of the first things first within the first remarkable 100 days in the history of this centre. Some of the things you must fix within the first 100 days should be security and welfare.
Comrades the security arrangements of our press centre has been in a real mess. In spite of the raging insurgency, any Toyin, Dikko and Modu just comes into the place without checks. This is the height of wrongs we have tolerated for the last decade of Boko Haram. If we are not careful some renegade gunmen not related to Shekau or Mohammed Yusuf can walk into the administrative section and shoot our officials with a silencer pistol and walk back without no one knowing. This is worse than keeping a bed within the administrative place to service the concubines of previous Exco members.
We are Primus inter Paris when it comes to the usage of even the toilets. None members no matter how beautiful should not be allowed to use our facilities without scrutiny. Even parties must be restricted only to a select group of people. When a non member pays 50,000 to use the lawn then he will be careful about the crowd that would be invited.
Last week Friday, I walked into the centre to eat the only health snap I am permitted to eat at the “akara” joint of Comrade Sunday only to be encountered by a large crowd at the entrance. After eating my akara dinner, I tried to talk to the hangers on to leave the entrance which could not happen at any other centre but they looked at me like an irritant. That could only happen because there was no security to send them away. We need a security architecture in our centre badly. It’s not a public place for all. It’s for us journalists. Can something be going on in the bar centre and urchins will just gather like that? How many journalists can even enter the resting place of the MDCAN or residency launge in UMTH and relax without them asking if they can help you? It doesn’t happen in any place I have visited except Maiduguri and someone will say it’s because of insurgency. Why did insurgency not stop some officials from selling our land worth N14 million and squandering same while one of them held up the keys to the only temporary office space for other Exco members including nawojians and used it for his guest house. This will surely be a topic for the future because a bed has no business in that administrative place when the secretary, treasurer or vice chair do not have offices which they really deserve to have quiet time to work for us.
I don’t think we need an urgent congress for an instant arrangement to be made for at least 2 security guards to take care of the press centre to start working immediately. One should be assigned the duty of manning the front gate during the day while others should take charge at night. This is one action that must take place before chairman Dauda ilya clicks 100 days in office. While I wait for secretary Chiroma to get my identity card from Abuja, i would gladly show him that of my newspaper or that of the govt house if he demands. And I will be allowed in. There is no Crime in him asking members to show some identification when in doubt. But as time goes on,both the night and day guards will be needing our support in making the place a safe one.
A stitch in time saves nine. In as much as we don’t want our friends in the police or civil defense to send people there which they will gladly do for free, we should be able to organize ourselves and get “organized security” for ourselves. We must hit the ground running comrades.
Building Unity, Character and strength in the Borno council after the election, series…….1
Columns
Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio

Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio
By: Balami Lazarus
Osama. Does it ring a bell? Yes, it does on the Plateau. The Osama I am writing about is that individual who is known for his good works for humanity on the radio and outside the studio. Osama is a gentleman but is outspoken and has a mind of his own.
My Osama in this context is a personality, a brand, and a trademark. Osama is a broadcaster, radio presenter, and popular comedian on stage and in the entertainment industry in Jos-Plateau and beyond. Since the writing is sailing, I will later reveal the identity of who this young man is and why he is so passionate about good governance.
The fights for human rights, social justice, and good governance have been the cries and topic of discourse of so many Nigerians, especially good governance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights activists are the leaders in these struggles, whereby their roles cannot be overemphasized. The quantum of spoken words, public lectures/enlightenment programs, workshops, seminars, etc., has not brought many changes in our systems because there was little or no action by you and me as Nigerians.
I remembered when I was very active in the struggle for human rights and social justice. As Deputy Secretary General (DSG) of Democratic Alternative (DA), we were much concerned with democratic alternative processes and social justice with a whiff of good governance, and this has been the case for some NGOs, as I know.
I came to understand from my experiences that, as a country, we have good public-oriented programs, but our major challenges are implementation and follow-up that come with too many talks but no individual action or collective responsibility because many Nigerians are fearful, and this has made me a one-man advocate/crusader for human rights and social justice. Like the subject of this work.
Now back to the subject. Osama is a brand package, fearless advocate, and mouthpiece for good governance on the Plateau through Town Hall, a popular radio program aired by JFM 101.9 FM. Jos is widely listened to. He was born as Ehis Akugnonu. But Osama has overtaken his certified name. Therefore, my continued use of Osama is justified in this work because I realized that many times your other name (also known as) tends to dominate and overshadow your real name.
Osama is redefining the fight for good governance by personal efforts through follow-up and speaking on them, putting the government on their feet to improve and do better. ‘I am for good governance, and I will continue to speak on this matter.’ He is purposefully driven by his passion for good quality and better systems to have an enabling environment where the systems are working for progress and development.
Balami, a publisher/columnist 08036779290
Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio
Columns
In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)

In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)
By: Balami Lazarus
I saw it coming. As a writer, my works and I have been verbally attacked several times. I raised an eyebrow at how some readers react by using bad language on issues, opinions, and views. Well, that is their way of expression when they are displeased, but I feel it is grotty.
And here is the conclusion of the “controversial piece,” as one caller puts it. For me, there is nothing controversial about this discourse but the truth of the grotesque happenings in married homes. And the way out, as I earlier wrote, is divorce.
Recently there has been an inflation of brutal murders in marriages; those killed are mostly women and children, and fewer men. What justification does one have to continue in a marriage where there are threats, violence, and unhappiness generated by the presence of either the husband or the wife? And unknowingly one becomes prey hunted by an in-house predator.
Sharks areamong the most intelligent aquatic animals. Their sense of smell is very sharp; they can smell and detect blood or any red object in water from a far distance and come for it at near the speed of light. Therefore, women’s body chemistry is like that of sharks; they sense and notice things easily. But what is wrong with many of them in marriage that they are unable to detect landmines or red flags early in their marriages? Where there is a threat to life with the intention to hurt, harm, and/or cause grievous injury or death, that is when they realize they are living in gross bondage if they are lucky to come out of it alive.
As students at Pluto College Sharam in Kanke-Plateau State, we were told and made to understand as boys to treat our girl students with love and care and be there for them when the need arises. That was one of the lessons that came from the late Dr. Sumaila Ndayako (Rector), as he was known and called. As boys, we dared not humiliate, insult, or threaten them in any way; rather, we were to take them as our sisters by extension. This has taught me to respect and care for the opposite sex.
Moreover, my association, membership, and experience with some human rights organizations have enlightened me with rights, liberties, and freedom garnished by respect for individual differences, rights and privileges, consent, and action. With this knowledge put together, I consider marriage never a do-or-die affair but a privilege with consent to be a husband to a woman who also has rights/consent to be a wife and live in matrimony. Why then humiliation, abuses, and domestic violence?
I have observed in my experience as a married man that if you take away some women from their husbands, they will die, and vice versa. Despite the domestic violence and abuses inflicted on either party, he/she is willing and prefers to die in such gothic marriage situations because one among them has a deep spiritual attachment to the marriage. This is common in Christendom, where “till death do us part.” My question here is, what kind of death? Intentional, accidental, or natural? This created injunction clause does not hold water in life-threatening marriages.
Living in a shark-jaws marriage, I always blamed women who had seen the red flags but refused to leave such marriages and the house-husband (husband). I further came to understand that patience and the pretext that all is well have caused damage to both spouses in terms of emotional and traumatic agonies and some to their graves.
Therefore, spouses that are trapped in this valley of death with its quagmire should know that marriage is a thing of choice. Likewise, divorce is permissible as a panacea for both to be alive to breathe freely.
Balami, a publisher/columnist, 0803677929
In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)
Columns
In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying, Ignoring Red Flags, and The Panacea (1)

In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying, Ignoring Red Flags, and The Panacea (1)
By: Balami Lazarus
In the quite beautiful town of Zhimbutu, where men held sway, lording over their wives, some with brutality, few with love,
care and romance others in different ways. While some women are also lords over their husbands with impunity. Fear of getting married gripped young ladies seeing the ways their mothers were being treated and relegated to the background in the affairs of their homes as married women.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kwanchinkwalo Xhosa is full of regrets, anger, and bitterness, where Mrs. Xhosa has been treated as an object in the marriage partnership. The red spots were obviously fermented with bubbles ready for brewing.
Similarly, some good number of marriage homes are full of regrets where love, peace, and understanding
and harmony are strangers rejected and kept in a labyrinth of doom where one of the parties is placed in a perpetual tan of unhappiness surrounded by fear in the thickness of smoke, a forced resident.
Long before, now as a young man, a legitimate product of marriage. I took marriage as a mere secular social contract of partnership bounded in love and understanding where two have agreed to live together as husband and wife in matrimony.
However, I have never taken marriage to be a do-or-die affair, which has been the stock of some persons, even when and if the two—husband and wife—can no longer live together, having exhausted reasonable avenues to no avail. Here I am.
for outright divorce as a panacea for the final dissolution of the marriage.
To this day, I have been asking myself, why did I even get married in the first place? For sex, procreation, companionship, norms, tradition, or obligation? While marriage to a larger extent has deprived me and many others of some air of freedom and liberties to do or not to do at any space of time, I suppose. Moreover, the enterprise called marriage has taken away the ‘who’ in many men and
women and made them something else. It has further forcefully taken the lives of many spouses who ignored the red flags and fear of divorce. And besides, many have taken upon themselves to live or die in an unhappy/venomous venture of marriage that is infested with ‘dysentery’ and ‘cholera,’ where death is lurking because husbands or wives lack the guts, will , ability, and/or capacity to invoke the dead-end solution.
Let me now punctuate the work with some questions: Were you forced into it? Was it under duress? Was it at gunpoint? I believed the answers were all no. What will then prevent an individual from liquidating his unprofitable marital interest in such an intense business called marriage to be free from wahala that may likely result in crime?
In such a situation, I advocate for divorce as the only and final panacea, which has a comfortable place as a clause in my dictionary of marriage. Divorce is rarely used in some quarters, no matter what. While my wife and I have sincerely agreed in the course of our marriage journey that at any point in time, with or without any reason/cause, either party can quietly and peacefully walk out of the marriage to avoid who knows what?
In the history of failed marriages and crime findings, it has been shown that one of the parties is forcing his/herself on the other spouse because one of them has a profound and compounded emotional or spiritual attachment to the marriage. The case of the late Mrs. Osinachi Nwachukwu (2023), the gospel singer, was a classical example. Patience and excessive spiritual attachment led to her being killed by her husband, one Mr. Nwachukwu. The same is also applicable to men who fall victim in the hands of their wives. This situation has created two prime suspected killers living in a marriage cocoon.
Balami, a publisher/columnist. 08036779290
In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying, Ignoring Red Flags, and The Panacea (1)
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