Thursday, June 9, 2005

NUJ at 50
By Soniran Sowemimo

THE Nigeria Union of Journalists is 50 years. The NUJ has the responsibility of registering practising journalists. The union is also set up to issue out rules and regulations for the conduct of professional journalists. The press is also recognised as the Fourth Estate of the realm.

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It has been years of no war no peace. The Nigerian press is grateful to the pioneering efforts of people like - Olu Oyesanya, Ebun Adesioye, H.K Offonry, L.K. Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo, Pa Mash. These were some of the gentlemen of the press who first served in the Executive Committee of the NUJ 50 years ago. We salute their courage and foresight. I had the opportunity of working with Pa Mash and Chief Bisi Onabanjo (the Ayekoto himself). Pa Mash was a first class reporter with the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Pa Mash was in the habit of carrying his portable radio set wherever he went. Chief Onabanjo was a veteran journalist, and administrator per excellence and the first Executive Governor of Ogun State who died in the service of the nation 15 years ago. I served him as Chief Press Secretary.

Mr. Olu Oyesanya (later Chief) was the first Secretary of the NUJ. I met him in his Sagamu home where he told me that he started his journalism career in 1947, when he was at the Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Mr. Oyesanya was the editor of "IONIAN" magazine. Ionian schools include Abeokuta Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Oduduwa College, Ibadan Grammar School, Ondo Boys High School and Ilesa Grammar School. Other schools joined later. Gone are the days when Ionian schools were the envy of the other secondary schools in sports.

Those journalists who gave their yesteryears for our today in the field of journalism were Bolaji and Alade Odunewu, Mr Olujide Somolu later Hon Justice Somolu. Herbert Unegbu of West African Pilot, Theresa Ogunbiyi, Increase Coker, Tony Enahoro, Adora Alaze, Horatio Agedah, Peter Enahoro, Segun Osoba, Tony Momoh, Abiodun Aloba, Ayo Lijadu - editor of the Daily Times who took over from Titcombe. Adamu Ciroma was the first Nigerian Editor of the New Nigerian. Mamman Daura took over from him. There was also Nelson Ottah of the Drum Magazine, Babatunde Jose of the Daily Times, Bisi Macgregor of the (Scanian scandal) Peter Ajayi, Felix Adenaike, Idowu Sobowale, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Lade Bonuola, Eric Teniola, Toye Akiyode, Femi Ogunleye, Dayo Duyile, Sanya Ogunlana, Joe Abiola, Joe Aladesohun, Remi Oyo, Bisi Adewunmi, Saka Fagbo and Saka Aleshinloye.

We should also remember our freedom fighter/journalists - Obafemi Awolowo, S.L. Akintola, Nnamdi Azikiwe; Herbert Macaulay. Other journalists who managed the affairs of the NUJ at one time or the other include this writer who served as the Director of Training Western State Council of the NUJ, Ibadan. The position was earlier occupied by the late Tunji Oseni.

Those who also served the NUJ include the late Jide Adeleye, the late Bola Adedoja (President NUJ), Michael Asaju (President NUJ), George Izobo (President NUJ) Lanre Ogundipe (President NUJ), Rev. Abimbola Odunlami (President NUJ), Smart Adeyemi (President NUJ), Sanni Zorro (President NUJ), Jola Ogunlesi (Secretary NUJ), Kola Adebayo, O.B. Oloyede (Chairman NUJ, Oyo) Eddy Aina (Chairman NUJ, Ogun), Lai Labode (Ogun) Demola Badejo (Ogun), Bode Oyewole (Oyo), Funke Fadugba (Lagos), Yemi Akinyemi (Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo), Tunde Akingbade (Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo), Fashina Thomas (Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists, Lagos), Pa Beyioku, Biodun Omosanya, Babson Adeyemi, Jare Dada, Haroun Adamu, the Elegbedes and Henry Odukomaiya. Others are Bunmi Iyeru, Fola Ashiru, Demola Oshinubi, Fabio Lanipekun, Areoye Oyebola, Liadi Tella, Bola Aragbaiye, Sola Odunfa, Sola Oyegbemi, Abdul Azeez, Atoyebi of Radio Nigeria, Kunle Adeleke, Kola Bamgbelu, Folu Olamiti, Biodun Oduwole.

Kudos to journalists who fought for the survival of this country for chasing out unpopular regimes. Some of them were murdered, jailed, maimed and others fled the country. Journalists like Dele Giwa, Amakiri, George Mbah, Kunle Ajibade, Chris Anyawu, Charles Obi, Niran Malaolu (now Commissioner for Information, Ogun State), Soji Omotunde, Muhammed Adamu, Irabor, Tunde Thompson, Babafemi Ojodu, Bayo Onanuga, Dapo Olorunyomi, Bagauda Kaltho, Nosa Igiebor. Others who suffered in the course of their assignments included Rotimi Obamuwagun (Chairman, ODTV chapter of NUJ), his deputy Ola Bamidele, Tunde Oladepo of The Guardian (murdered in his Abeokuta home) Chris Imodibie and Tayo Awotusin who were murdered in Liberia.

In journalism we also have war veterans who fought with their pen to keep Nigeria one - people like Peter Obe, Bepo, Kola Ogunsanwo (of the Federal Film Unit), Wole Eyitayo, Ndem, Akin Olotu, Supo Ogunwole, Kodjo Abalovie, Olumide Perera, Yomi Onabolu, Adegboyega Arulogun and Segun Osoba. I do not want to go into the history of the Nigerian press, because a lot has been said and written about it with non-professional journalists practising the trade. They include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Engineers, Surveyors and other unrelated professionals.

Happily enough, things have changed in which well-trained and competent journalists have taken their rightful positions and can be compared favourably with their colleagues anywhere in the whole world. The recent example is the Joseph Pulitzer award won by a Nigerian journalist Dele Olojede. This journalist is not only a pride to this country, but Africa and the whole world at large.

Inspite of the humiliation suffered by journalists during the Abacha regime, the profession is still growing from strength to strength. It is on record that by the time he died there were over 20 journalists in jail, some not charged, others were tried secretly. Newspaper offices were raided, journalists were arrested and kept in various prisons. Some for fear of being jailed left the country. With all these tribulations, journalists are still keeping the flag flying. We have continued to fight for the common people, we have never tolerated injustice and we have never shirked our basic responsibilities of entertaining, informing and educating the public.

Let me end this write-up on the 50th anniversary of the NUJ by quoting Joseph Pulitzer an American publisher: "A good press must always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight tyrants of all parties, never belong to any party, always oppose the privileged class, and plunderers, never lack sympathy with the poor, always remain devoted to the public welfare, never be satisfied with merely printing news, always be dramatically independent, never be afraid to attack the wrong by predatory poverty".

It has been 50 years of tireless and selfless service to our nation. It has been years of liberation from colonialism, years of unwarranted and unprovoked detentions, years of humiliation and torture. Gentlemen of the press, we have cause to celebrate. We have performed excellently well.

• Sowemimo is Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists, Ogun State Chapter.