Columns

My binoculars: NUJ and the dangers of unleashing unexposed journalists on contemporary Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2022

News Net Global

My binoculars: NUJ and the dangers of unleashing unexposed journalists on contemporary Nigeria

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Reading through a piece written by one Rev father Kelvin Ugwu, titled ” why I talk about election and politics” a lot of lessons can be fished out for the younger generation who believe so much in living the “false life” when it is election time making themselves easy tools by dangerous politicians. That literary false life which Professors Gambo and Pate warned in separate fora will not take us anywhere if we mean to carry out our roles as members of the fourth estate of the realm. There is so much I am yet to write about the recent training sessions on safety anchored by the new executive of the Borno State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and the very strong pronouncements of Professor Danjuma Gambo, at the Dijuma hotel where one of the sessions were held.

Professor Gambo incidentally is one of the key pillars of the department of Mass communications of the University of Maiduguri in Borno state. As one of the speakers said during the 2 days training session, the erudite Prof has been called so many names including a “difficult man” by those who do not want to be educated but believe they are entitled to a certificate after four years. But you know what, the Prof is doing all these to move his products from where they think they have arrived to where they should be in terms of professional excellence. I will do the same thing even if you call me names in the typical Nigerian laissez-fair way of doing things. Even though he was not wearing the academic garb on that day Prof Gambo had a gift for everyone who calls himself a journalist in Nigeria. Very strong professional messages were passed down which to me were gifts for staying the course in the profession as we cruise towards the general election. Most of the younger ones heard stuffs they never picked in the classroom. Profs Danjuma Gambo and Umar Pate will surely have their mention days very soon inside my Binoculars

To Ugwu, if at 36 this young man of God can think proactively, it is a big lesson to young and unstable journalists anywhere. It is always better to aim high but the worse that can happen to a man is to build castles in the air. Take yourself to the clouds where evil thoughts abound and return to the reality on earth. This young Ugwu has been given so many powerful positions yet he remains focused and normal in his late thirties were many professionals are still very “unstable” and “non right thinking”. When one is given an opportunity like Ugwu and still floating in the air when removed from a place by circumstances created by nature, one is still supposed to remain normal. And not going about harassing young ones in that institution and refusing to come back to reality even when the political god father who brought you on board dies suddenly. These are some of the excesses we are supposed to purge ourselves of as journalists who wish to keep our professional reputations.

Composure of journalists during any form of elections period or year

A colleague once asked me why I stuck my head out for Chairman Dauda Ilya in the last elections. What if he fails? he asked smiling. How will you manage the disappointment? Don’t you think you are supposed to be discreet? I quickly responded. Comrade life itself is like a game. You win small and loose small. If my candidate looses I will remain myself. I will not go about trying to patch my reputation like an all knowing person who has no business loosing like I see among some young colleagues. This is because I have never seen elections anywhere as a do or die matter. I have lost so many material things and opportunities in this short life but have equally gained others so to me loosing is not a challenge. I lost my father at 57 in 1987 but life continued. I did not loose my self esteem when I was training without his support to become a journalist. I did menial jobs to survive. Now that I am involved in guiding younger journalists into the right paths I don’t have any reason to believe that my reputation will be poisoned for seeing quality in a particular candidate and standing openly with him instead of hiding behind the clouds. I will never allow any one to puncture my reputation especially if the person is a journalistic brat who has 30 more years to tread where I have dared to walk before now. Loosing an election does not mean that a man has reached his elastic limits so he must look for drugs or Marijuana to compensate his punctured self esteem. A journalist should be far stronger than that. In fact quoting from Professor Gambo it is good to try to be daring and safe during the course of doing the job. However, any professional who is not ready to “die” for doing the right thing is not ready to be a journalist.

The dangers of remaining certificated yet dangerously unexposed

Thank God my candidate won, I wish younger journalists will learn one lesson or two from the humility of Chairman Dauda Ilya. He is not infected with any form of sublime “inferiority complex” and will surely not use a bigger colleague to shine. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and will never deliberately outshine masters in the game. He is an obvious team player who has an on the spot perception of our problems. He understands that he cannot be the only tree in the forest which is why he learnt the ropes very fast.

He also reads widely and has tried to expose himself through books. Dauda Ilya is the chairman of nuj today but he will never go to another chat room to say I am the chair, you have no right to do this while I am the chair. Despotism is not in his character because he has taken his time to understand the power game of the NUJ. As young as he is in the game, he may be perceived as reticent but that is the haul mark of a well trained professional. Listening more than talking. He has learnt practical diplomacy from some of us he is never ashamed to associate with. If there is an issue to be sorted. Be prepared because he will call you directly to iron it out so that your persona is not injured in any way. That is the persona of a man who is ready for greater assignments beyond that of the state as chairman of the NUJ.

When Dogs hunt for dog meat to eat

I remember my mentor Professor Ralph Akinfeleye used to say in class that when dog bites a man it’s no news but when a man decides to bite a dog it’s news. I actually saw it in an online flick recently making the rounds in which a puppy was tormenting a young lad. He simply picked the puppy and bit it and it scampered away screaming in pain. That is a big lesson for cub reporters to know that they should avoid the dog eat dog syndrome now that the nation is anticipating an election just around the corner. A bigger dog can always chew a smaller one and get away with it if the cub or puppy behaves silly. But when two big rottweilers start to bite themselves over superiority or space them there is fire on the mountain. Only the old dogs in our case, the veterans can come in to intervene.

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Younger colleagues who go about using the reputation of older colleagues to oil their deflated egos after an election are surely suffering from “inferiority complex” or drugs induced fatigues. The drugs such members indulge in secretly will never allow them to know when they are digging their own graves for destruction. They are found in many other professions but we tend to ignore them when they get high within ours. I think we should begin to worry about them and look out for post traumatic stress disorder too.

The dangers of un-exposure

Mark you, this alarm is not about the sound of their certification or the former positions they held but their self induced backwardness in their calling which is affecting their relationships with people. They are generally unexposed and do not understand the relationship between certification and exposure which cannot be picked from an academic classroom.

If indeed you are a bigger dog, you will realize that there is no need to respond to some of their tirades. This is simply because it’s not worth it. We shall continue to pray for them not to die young from the drug induction which some of them have decided to hold on to at their own peril. When you read the admonition of the young Kelvin posted on top you will always see that those who the God’s want to destroy they first make mad. Be guided if you belong to the younger generation of journalists who take hard drugs and alcohol and rob it on your colleagues when you loose control. This is because the future ahead may be too complex for you to navigate without guidance. In fact it could be suicidal to do so.

My binoculars: NUJ and the dangers of unleashing unexposed journalists on contemporary Nigeria

Columns

Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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)

Published

3 weeks ago

June 10, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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)

Published

3 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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)