STANDARD: This voice remains relevant

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national broadcast marking this year’s Democracy Day was commendable in certain respects. However, it deliberately, or so it seemed, left out an area that is very dear to many of us.

Many Nigerians who are passionate about the media and its place in Nigeria’s evolution are aware of the critical role THE NIGERIA STANDARD Group of Newspapers played in the struggle for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 elections.

Except they choose to downplay its place in Nigeria’s political history, the paper stood out at that momentous time in Nigeria’s history. To ignore that would simply amount to doing a great injustice to the key players and the history of democracy in Nigeria. Sadly, many who profess to hold the late Commissioner of Police, Joseph Dechi Gomwalk, in high esteem are not ready to come out publicly in defence of one of his signature institutions – THE NIGERIA STANDARD.

No doubt, this newspaper has paid its dues in the democratic journey of this country. So it was a huge surprise and disappointment that when President Tinubu mentioned the names of some “irrepressible” Nigerian journalists who played key roles in the June 12 struggle, none from THE NIGERIA STANDARD was mentioned!

Perhaps, it was an inadvertent slip. Perhaps not. Whatever be the case, it has become imperative to set the records straight. Journalists’ contributions to that particular struggle for democracy couldn’t have started and ended with the Lagos-Ibadan press. Contributions also came from other journalists in the other parts of the country.

Despite being a government newspaper operating in a military era, the newspaper’s editorial team boldly stood for the sanctity of June 12. They stood with the majority of Nigerians who massively voted for Moshood Abiola as president, irrespective of their religions and tribes.

When the newspaper was established in 1972, it was meant to set a standard for the industry. That was Gomwalk’s dream. Thus, it went for the best hands available then in the industry. It didn’t matter where they came from, THE NIGERIA STANDARD was home to all.

The crop of editorial staff hired then (and even later), were, in more ways than one, like their medium’s founder: fearless, with an abiding love for justice and integrity in all they would do. You couldn’t blame them. It is often said that the person who stays with the loader of cement bags becomes more like him before long. You have two choices: stay away or be a friend.

Most journalists who practised during the military era have one interesting story or another to relay. Over time, their experiences served to enable them make choices, whether to be combative, advocating or demanding justice or to just play along in the newsroom, treating press releases.

The fire in THE NIGERIA STANDARD newsroom did not burn its staff or the ideals they held dear. It enabled readers and even leaders, who appreciate the meat in the struggle, to fall in love with the newspaper (for average readers) and treat it with respect (especially for government officials and advertisers). Its reporters were aware of the general mandate of their medium, and the essence of the struggle it was involved in as a result of historical and political factors.

The Plateau Publishing Corporation ground remained fertile with ideas and other interactions, thus giving the workers latitude to be at their best, without inhibitions by the newspapers’ editors and even its proprietor, the state Government. What guided those who work or have worked there was the training one was privileged to receive everyday.

No wonder, in those good old days, the newspaper became a darling in state and national stations’ papers’ reviews, and for reading delight in offices and homes. Many will recollect that if they went to buy newspapers, they had no choice than to pick THE NIGERIA STANDARD and any other newspaper of choice.

Such was the effect of the titles on their readerships and the nation’s psyche. That being the case, it spurred its editors and reporters to be committed to doing what was just and right.

The newspapers did not forget the ideals that gave birth to them and its staff were prepared to damn the consequences, if their actions were in tandem with those values. If you must know, they made sure they stayed committed to what their founder dreamed of, a medium always on the side of the struggle with the people.

For years, successive editors and reporters of the paper were haunted, incarcerated, or even sacked from their duty posts for their reports and leader commentaries.

In fact, some were sacked, reinstated; and again sacked and chased to go into the ‘wild’ (if you permit the usage). Out for greener pastures, they became instant success stories in their new found homes, giving proof of the quality stuff they were made up. THE NIGERIA STANDARD loss was always the gain of other media houses.

Some of them who are alive today, and we can mention a few names, are a reference point in the profession. They have remained consistent, mentoring many more in the profession and the struggle for a better Nigeria.

A number of them were constant guests at security agencies’ offices, yet, it did not deter them; rather, they chose to keep faith with media practice and to give their best to the readers. Their efforts paid off in several regards.

Therefore, when the 1993 general elections were held, THE NIGERIA STANDARD, as usual, played a pivotal role right from the beginning of the transition programme to the primaries of the two political parties at the Jos Township Stadium, where Chief MKO Abiola emerged as candidate of the SDP and Port Harcourt, where Alh. Bashir Tofa of the NRC emerged the party’s candidate.

The offices of the newspaper were repeatedly visited by political office seekers those years, always stretching many of us to different interview sessions, transcriptions and features for publications.

THE NIGERIA STANDARD, like many others, played a significant role in advancing the cause of democracy. Its editorial on June 21, 1993, titled, This is our Stand, stands out. That was one of the most powerful editorials one has ever read. Published in the heat of confusion orchestrated to undermine democratic rule and prolong dictatorship, the editorial left neither readers nor government in doubt that sanity must prevail. It took on the military, judiciary, associations and the media for their dubious roles in the June 12, 1993, general elections, which Chief Abiola won.

Following “orders from above”, six of its senior editors namely, Emma Gogwim, Cyril Ogah, Gideon S Mitu, Wilson Yale, Harris Dawurang, Usman Ikpokigye Abu, resigned in protest, as they refused to retract the editorial. They resigned when government wrote and had its own softer version of the editorial published the following day. The government editorial was titled: The need for Caution.

It must be stated here too, that one other person resigned his appointment in solidarity with THE NIGERIA STANDARD editors, Danjuma Abah, then, Deputy Chief Sub- Editor. He insisted that what his editors did was right, and chose to take the same path with them.

The editors who sacrificed their offices were without paid jobs for over a year, before being requested to return to their duty posts, with some concessions made to them. I have always wondered how they survived, but one thing I know is, they became hot cakes elsewhere.

The fact that they stood their ground, convinced that what they did was right and timely in the struggle to enthrone democratic rule, drew applause from various quarters, but not from the powers that be. Such power mongers have always known that ‘those boys in Jos’ were not easy to conquer.

For long, those of us that remained on ground went about with our shoulders held high, as if to tell our traducers and all who cared to listen, that if they knew anything from history, it is that the editors would not suffer shame. And so it was.

The newspaper kept faith for some time until its fortunes started to nosedive. Several governments, both military and civilian, treated its concerns and operations with levity. And, because the title suffered unmerited neglect (as its woes remained basically untreated), they festered, placing it at a disadvantage in the competitive newspaper industry.

It appeared as if government was only interested in the payment of staff salaries, without engaging them in their statutory responsibilities. Government failed to inspire staff; thus, the tone of activities at the organisation was on the decline.

But for the ingenuity and patience of staff, THE NIGERIA STANDARD titles would have long closed shop. For one, the Goss Community printing press bought by the founder was only being “managed”.

For another, being on the street on a consistent basis was difficult. Indeed, at its low point, editorial and advert executives suffered certain inanities whenever they went to cover events or canvass for adverts.

However, thanks to Governor Jonah David Jang, THE NIGERIA STANDARD was saved from the mockery it was being subjected to by its traducers. Before he left office, Jang bought and installed a digital printing press, which uplifted the operations of the titles.

Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye had, before then answered the prayer of staff of the newspaper house. Before Dariye’s intervention, staff retired without pension, given paltry sums as gratuity (which could come in instalments!).

In 2005, Governor Dariye changed that story. Being an old employee himself, he knew the difficulties staff went through after their services were ended. Credit to him, he came to their rescue.

In a recent write-up, former Governor Sule Lamido holds strongly that it is not possible to “deconstruct and reconstruct the narrative of the actual history of June 12.”

Titled, “Hallucinating June 12: There was June 11 before June 12”, the former governor posited that the struggle was a “national sacrifice” that was hijacked by NADECO elements. As a result, the victory has taken a different dimension.

No one can rewrite history. No attempt at changing what has taken place can reduce the contributions of the media outside the Lagos -Ibadan press. While the press in that axis was haunted during the struggle, THE NIGERIA STANDARD shone brightly, complementing their efforts and that of media elsewhere who were pained by the actions that aborted June 12.

How many young people today know the role played by Chief Solomon Daushep Lar in the struggle to birth democracy? How many youth and the older ones are aware he sacrificed to convey the letter addressed to Abacha by G18 demanding the enthronement of democracy?

Lamido concluded that article by stating that “all those mentioned in the President’s speech belong to the ‘Sidon look’ group! No amount of deconstruction and reconstruction to stand history on its head can bury the truth.”

I and many others still celebrate Emma Gogwim Kayi, Cyril Ogah, Gideon S. Mitu, Wilson Yale, Harris Dawurang, Usman Ikpokigye Abu and Danjuma Abah and THE NIGERIA STANDARD for what they did and what they represent.

But these are only part of a whole. We cannot forget other staff in the editorial, advert, circulation, computer, security, printing and drivers who, collectively, made the production, circulation and reading of THE NIGERIA STANDARD a habit. Readers and other patrons of the paper also share in this glory.

THE NIGERIA STANDARD is a voice that remains relevant. It will be good if all of us treat it so.

Gobum was a one-time Editor of THE NIGERIA STANDARD