PPC: So hard to say goodbye(1)

WHEN I joined THE NIGERIA STANDARD newspapers, I had no inkling I would remain with the organization far longer than I envisaged or so I thought. But time and season are in the hands of the Maker; as such, I remained on its payroll for about three decades.

Leaving the Federal Training Center, Calabar was a hard decision, made after the home front had complained of staying far from Jos. If you must know, I got married while working in Calabar; and being far, I came home at intervals; when time and resources permitted.

That didn’t go down well with missus; and I had to concede for the young union to succeed. No marriage succeeds without cooperation and sacrifice. I chose to follow my heart’s prompting, despite a desire to remain in the Canaan City. I left, without hard feelings; even with other things I had initiated for my development were yet to be completed.

I recall that many had asked to know why I was leaving Calabar, even when I had a career that was just blossoming and expansive. It wasn’t a bad idea to leave home to another state; after all, most times we are disparaged in Plateau for loving to remain home without exploring the outside world. Leaving for Jos was a decision that didn’t come easy, I must say. However, when I finally did, you can be sure, that I knew I followed the right prompting of my heart without regrets.

That was not the first time I would resign from a job I had competed to secure. Several years earlier, I had left the former Bank of the North Ltd at its Maiduguri branch. It was here I met the girl that would later become my wife. It was in the organization that I saw better days ahead even when a senior bank official; who should have encouraged me, had mocked my desire to get a university degree. A few years after, I got the university degree and, instincts told me I should seek for reengagement with the same bank.

When I did, the frustrations I got in the hands of a son of the soil who was the most senior staff at that time was enough to send me to the office of Bagudu Hirse, then representing Plateau as the Federal Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service in Lagos. All he needed was just to see my face, and pronto, a job was waiting for me in Calabar.

I have been the better since I took that decision, even as my parents would later appreciate why I left banking for journalism. The profession brought me face to face with the same official who played a fool of my struggles to regain my job with the bank; but thank God, I told him I had moved on and had long put that behind me and happy with what I was doing.

Joining THE NIGERIA STANDARD; where I spent a better part of my life could be seen as a dream come true. I am aware that for all of these, God had a hand in it. As a child, my father had encouraged me to love journalism. He had a transistor radio that practically became his companion, any where he went except the church. As a child I took interest in tuning and listening to the various news stations he would rummage all through the day; only  going to bed after getting the latest on BBC, Deutsche Welle radio and VON Hausa service.

That also developed my interest in journalism; and in those days, I became addicted to THE NIGERIA STANDARD as my favourite, as I made sure I saved the last kobo to get a copy every day, from the Igbo man newspaper vendor in Pankshin. As a young boy in secondary school, I didn’t have money to buy more than one newspaper; so he would gladly ask that I take time to read other newspapers that were on the stand, if I wanted. To be fair, to have being called a dedicated member of the Free Readers’ Association, Pankshin chapter at that point, would have been right.

As if listening to the radio was not enough; as a young boy, I would write letters to the editor, not only to the title but many others; and I was copiously published. That was the elixir I needed to keep churning one material after another for publication. Since I was published, I became the more interested in the trade. Later, I got to know that a byline anywhere was like the tonic a reporter needed to get him started.

One person that was instrumental for me joining the Plateau Publishing Corporation was Emma Kayi Gogwim, Presently, Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, but it was Mathew Kuju who made me fall in love with entertainment writing. He, it was, that insisted that the beat would suit me, if I became connected to it; and truly he was dead right. Before long, I was a family member of the group I had dreamt of working for. I had become an editor of the first title I had been assigned to report for since joining the group: THE NIGERIA STANDARD ON SATURDAY; having reported for some time.

The tutelage we underwent here; as in other units was difficult to take in; to the point that one always thought the editors didn’t like us. We were dead wrong, for it was in the training that we opened the doors for the future. When I was made an editor, I came to the realization that it was not a child’s play; for if you became a friend in the newsroom, work would suffer. Truth is, there are no friends in the newsroom except outside of it, if all must work.

I chose deliberately to return home to begin a career in journalism. To be frank, I had initial fears, but they were subdued as soon as I started work in Jos. Before long I had settled down to business and was assigned to THE NIGERIA STANDARD ON SATURDAY, a title I would later become its Editor. It may interest you to note that it was the first weekend title which held readers spelt bound. Back in the day, readers waited for any of the title in the stable as they were a must read. Nothing is impossible: Those days are on the way and I am sure, the staff are capable with more support.

Working on this title was the beginning of several journeys to uncountable places I had never dreamt of: Getting stories from music shows, tourism, unusual stories that got several families asking questions how we were able to get them. These were the glorious years we may never see again in the organization. The days of Benson and Hedges music concerts and any in that class may never come our ways again. If they do, we are the better for it; and truly, the Corporation has the capacity to return to its lost glorious days.

Looking back, the entertainment stories and other articles that were churned out over the years, before it was rested in 2000 were out of the ordinary. In those days, reporters were supported so much, to the point that one didn’t look the other way when one saw a good story. It is a different ball game today, given the quality of what is in the media today.

The home front initially misunderstood the choice of journalism as a profession. She was later to get the drift and appreciated it. Not sounding boastful, yours sincerely insisted to continue even when several openings came up. While I missed some of the opportunities, I am sure it was an indication of how God wanted me to practice the profession to its peak.

Getting to the peak was tasking, but I believe it was God’s way of rewarding my persistence and the few men that he brought in the course of service would not be disappointed. I may have turned out to have performed; but I don’t claim to be any better than anyone. Opportunities like these are always rare; nonetheless, they abounded to sharpen the reporter for the future.

Working under the first editor, Matthew Kuju on the weekend paper was like fighting in a war front: If one didn’t have bullets, the enemy might consume him. Knowing that enabled us to put our girdle right. We went to places we wouldn’t have, attended functions reserved for the Lagos press. And we met people who sharpened our world view and made one better. No wonder, they say travelling is the best form of education.

In the course of working, I came to understand that I needed models if I wanted to succeed in the practice of journalism. There were lots of them, who, from day one followed me all over with koboko (horse wipe) ensuring I didn’t go out of the line. Nde Gideon Barde, Jonathan Ishaku (who would later become one that modeled several of us, whether as Editor working here or with other titles in Lagos or General Manager of the corporation), Joel Pwol, Matthew Kuju, Clem Oluwole Emma Gogwim, Akila Gwamsuk, Sylvanus Namang, Joseph Ntung Ari, Ishmaila Ransa, James Damulak, Nuhu Gagara, Wilson Yale, Cyril Ogah, Usman Abu, Allahnana (Master John) Attah, Sunday Andong, Gideon Mitu (my brother from another mother), Harris Dawurang, Caleb Yusuf, Stephen Musa Sarki, David Balami, Idris Dan’azumi, Peter Shyepsuk, Rima Shawulu, ‘General’ Officer Commanding Standard Forces, Selven Wazhi, Hosea Yunana (Hossy Dee), Aleew ‘Yaro’ Taleeb, Nandom Dashe, Isiyaku Dantsoho, Shittu Kanam, Yusuf Kopkama, Christie E Best, Veronica T. Ogbole, Tanko Kangiwa, Samuel Dung Dagyang, Prof Ladi Adamu, Dapo Fwangje, Godsave Nankpa, Danlami Nkup, Emma Ali, Musa Ja’afaru, Gyang Dahoro, Charles Agellah, Mike ‘Captain’ Molokwu, Sam Otitolaye, Oliver Agwadu, Abel Kigbu, Stella Jibrin, Ibrahim Suleiman, Gyang Pam, Goke Awofeso, Bulus Rogo, and many more whose name are not here.