In as much as the topic of discussion in this context is not about “The Long Harmattan Season”, it is expedient to know the stuff the author is made of as an African proverb, in the wisdom that is inherent in it, instructively says that “You should know who cooked in the kitchen otherwise you might eat a forbidden food”.
There is no denying the fact that by each passing celebration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, that media experts and top journalists across the country typically take a look at the breaches of freedom of Journalists in the course of news coverage. As if the threat is not enough, Journalists, particularly those in the reportorial cadre have for the umpteenth time being compelled to work amidst their predators, who are no doubt, the Islamist militia, kidnappers, overzealous police officers and an amorphous group which the government has tagged bandits, who have technically sacked farmers in Central Tiv land in Benue State from their farms coupled with the burgeoning insecurity situations rearing its ugly head in the South East region of the country.
Against the foregoing backdrop, there is no denying the fact that given the sensitive duties of journalists in giving vent to the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression for which the institution has been labelled the fourth estate of the realm that the flood of violence unleashed on Nigerian journalists in recent times calls for concern.
It would be recalled in this context that in February 2021 that two journalists were victims of kidnapping in a manner that signifies that Journalists, particularly Reporters are the toast of kidnappers. For instance, the Punch newspaper Correspondent, Mr. Okechukwu Nnodim was kidnapped on February 3, 2021 by armed men who stormed his compound in the Arab Road area of Kubwa in Abuja; while Chidiebere Onye, a Reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was kidnapped on February 9, 2021 in Rivers State while returning from work.
Even today, several journalists under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, organized a protest in Abuja over their colleague, Comrade Tordue Henry Salem, who has been missing since October 13, 2021.
This is coming as they stormed the force headquarters to make their plight known to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, through a petition. The petition, according to media reports, was received by the IGP.
Recall that the Benue State Government recently appealed to the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba and the Department of State Services (DSS) to take steps in ensuring the missing journalist is rescued.
According to a professional colleague, “This shocking new evidence is further proof of the appalling crimes being committed against Journalists by all sides in the conflicts that is presently devastating Nigeria, and in this context, the Journalists. Journalists deserve better – what does it say when hoodlums carry out such disgusting attack on Journalists that are under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria compelled to at all time, be free to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people?”
Recall that the safety of Journalists was of ultimate concern in 2016 when the General Manager of Radio One, Lagos, Funke Treasure Durodola advised media owners to create enabling environment for journalists to practise through newsroom mentoring.
The event which was organized by the Nigerian Journalists’ Safety Initiative and supported by Open society foundation had Durodola posed such rhetorical questions as: “Who needs a journalist anyway and why are journalists unsafe?” According to her, a United Nations report shows “that journalists are murdered for their reporting; very few of the murders are investigated and in almost 90 per cent of the cases, no one is prosecuted.”
Ostensibly heightening the concerns been raised over the years on the safety of Journalists, Dr. Uche Nworah has come out with a book titled: “Media Practice and Security Challenges in South East Nigeria”, and assured that it will soon be available on Amazon and other online bookstores.
To those that are yet to come to grips with what the book is all about, Mr. Chidorum Nwakanma, a Communication Consultant, Journalist and Educator, throws an insight into the book through a blurb thus: “This compact treatise examines issues of the environment of practice, security considerations, welfare, and professionalism. The book offers survival tips for managing as well as reporters, in the various stations and media organs on navigating the rough waters.
“It is a moving story and an evolving area. Media Practice and Security Challenges in the South East should stir robust conversations around both the media and the associated issues of insecurity in the region including leadership, the role of non-state actors, the vision and goal on the region and conflict resolution. A bold start.”
It would be recalled that author is not new in the field of book publishing as his book “The Long Harmattan Season”, as far back as 2007 has earned him laudable acknowledgments from connoisseurs of literatures. According to Rudolph Lewis, Editor, Chicken Bones, “Uche Nworah is probably one of the hardest working and possibly the most controversial of the writers we have published. To Jideofor Adibe, then Editor, Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, London, UK, and now a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, “Uche Nworah is one of Nigeria’s pre-eminent commentators and public intellectuals.” In the same vein, Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, Washington, D.C said, “The Long Harmattan Season is a compilation of satirical commentaries by Nigeria’s controversial internet columnist”.
In as much as the topic of discussion in this context is not about “The Long Harmattan Season”, it is expedient to know the stuff the author is made of as an African proverb, in the wisdom that is inherent in it, instructively says that “You should know who cooked in the kitchen otherwise you might eat a forbidden food”.
Isaac Asabor
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