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| IBB through a Rootnews lens |
How many people claim to have fought for the democracy of Nigeria? Numerous. Hilarious; Politicians, Diplomats, Unionists, Civil Rights activists, Religious leaders, Lawyers, media men, and even some in the same military. If we adopt their definition for the word;”fight”, then they probably did, yes. Anyways, though we haven’t arrived at Democracy, we’ve gone far from the Military era. Not too far, but far enough for people to lose interest in the prices that were paid by others in the fight for the restoration of the rule of law.
What It Will Mean, Fighting For Nigeria
For
today, ‘Fighting for Nigeria’ will not accommodate the Civil War
soldiers who battled for Nigeria to remain one. Why? Because the
military caused the war, so they only fought to correct their error. You
may, in a sense, conclude that they have cancelled out their gaffe that
threatened Nigeria’s oneness. But they followed up the civil war with
even more crimes against the Nigerian state. No disrespect for the
loyal, professional and patriotic soldiers who executed their job in
putting their lives on the line for Nigeria – “Twale!” to such. God
bless their souls – but let’s look today at civilians who were armed
with nothing but courage, intellect, faith, biros, voices and
selflessness.
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| Journalism gets covert |
The Truth Had To Upset Nobody, Or Else…
Back
then, every state was headed by a soldier. There was an era they were
referred to as Military Governors and then they began to be called
Military Administrators. They basically were in place to do what the
Soldier at the presidency wanted in their states. If you told the truth
then, you had to be sure it wasn’t going to upset nobody. And if you
upset the man at the state, you were an enemy of the man at the
presidency. And among other horrifying threats, your life was on the
line.
The Rootnews That Dared Say The Truth
In
the heat of such a time, in Akwa Ibom State, a young man, about 30,
dared start a media organization that would say the truth no matter who
was upset. He called it Rootnews; he was called Udeme Umo. The man took
on any subject of interest as far as it would serve people; from
investigating into cold blooded murders, to reporting from haunted
locations, to facing flying bullets, to interviewing dreaded spiritists,
to confronting I-am-God claims, he became a thorn in the flesh of “tin
gods” who thrived in a society with a high fear-factor culture. The
slogan of Rootnews was in fact, an expression of the heart of the
Editor-in-Chief; it was the same in theory and in experience – “serving
the people”. And, whoever serves people attracts people. So, it didn’t
take long for Rootnews to garner a good followership. His influence
still strongly lingers in the journalism field with the likes of Anayo
Okoli of Vanguard and Grace Akpan of the Akwa Ibom Ministry of
Information, still very active.
The
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, while receiving his award
from the League of Veteran Journalists(LVJ), as the first Senior
Advocate of Responsible Journalism (SARJ), stated that Akwa Ibom
currently has about 102 local tabloids; while Chief Emmanuel Esifa, the
Akwa Ibom state chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, noted
that around 20 years ago, there were only about 3 newspapers operating
in Akwa Ibom State, of which Rootnews was leading.
Who The Hell Is Udeme Umo?!
The
state military government took notice immediately. Someone was making a
mess of the governments weak public relations efforts. “Who the hell is
this guy?” They asked with flames blowing out of their nostrils, “and
what’s giving him the nerve?” In no time, uniforms were turning up at
Rootnews offices – the company had grown to occupy two properties in
Uyo. Chief Esifa explains that, back in the days, Rootnews was as
threatening “though in a positive way” as the state’s current most
hostile newspaper.
Who Kill Dele Giwa?
Most
times, like Jesus in the bible, the man they came looking for slipped
through their fingers and they would resort to confiscating or
destroying assets. Family members began to disappear, kidnapped by no one can confirm
who. What eye witnesses can confirm is the fact that the cars that took
the missing persons had the green number plate. Fela sang back then in
the days of a leading journalist, Dele Giwa’s assassination; “who kill
Dele Giwa? Na Baba! If you add –Ngida, na you sabi” The people knew who
was after Udeme Umo just as, in Lagos, years earlier, people knew who
had terminated Dele Giwa; but no one could come out to point fingers.
Few times, though, trust the military bosses, they found the Rootnews
man to arrest. They’d threaten, negotiate, entice, detain etc. But
Rootnews refused to flinch.
Pressures Mounting On An Adamant Man
People
began to advise the staff of Rootnews; “can’t you guys drop some news
items?” Initially, they’d reply, “No. That’s what we stand for. We say
the truth, and we stand for justice”. But later, as pressure bore on,
they began to stutter in their defense of Rootnews. Besides the threats
the company daily faced from armed uniform men, sponsors began to
withdraw, hence economic pressure grew. Staff began to advise their
boss; “Oga, we need to soft pedal o”. But an adamant journalist, Udeme
Umo simply refused to give in.
Rootnews Melted
And
till today, 22 years after Rootnews packed out of her offices, and the
organization melted, Udeme Umo refuses to give in. Yes, the pressures
had so mounted on the newspaper house that it could not remain solid. It
melted. But that’s what it did, melt. Which means it could reemerge if
the conditions are right.
The Man Kept The Fight
But
the man Umo did not give up fighting. He began to work as a media
consultant for several organizations. His post-Rootnews journey took him
into politics, as he joined the ranks of civil minded men who mounted
pressure from under, trying to get the military government to give way
to democracy. When Ika people needed a local government, Udeme was there
to fight for them – he became recognised as the “Asanga Usung Ika”
years later. When the Annangs, then considered minority in Akwa Ibom
state, wanted Itai State, Udeme was there to labour for that dream – he
became the “Uko Annang”, a title conferred on him by the Paramount Ruler
of Ikot Ekpene, the powerful His Royal Majesty Okuku Etim Akpan Udo
Ntepkere (late), and the president of Echid Uko Annang, an influential
socio-political organization that was known for her fighting spirit.
Udeme Umo was just one unbendable fighter. His kind didn’t survive
easily. In his case, the fighter lives but the fearful die. So, even
though his paper was killed, his passion remained.
The Fight Continues
When
the League of Veteran Journalists, Akwa Ibom State chapter, decided to
look for those remnants of journalists who practiced the profession in perilous days and survived till date, they didn’t search for long
when they ran into the handsome features of the all-welcoming Udeme Umo.
Still serving people, still fighting for Nigeria, still bearing burdens in diverse ways, now a man of God and father to
numerous young people, now a Dr. Udeme Umo, the man was not hard to
find.
With over 20 years experience in the media, he has been inducted into The League of Veteran Journalists and made Chairman of the Elders’ Advisory Council. That may resemble an honour, but in the prevailing situation, where Nigeria is yet to experience liberty of the press and freedom of information, this induction means that Udeme’s fight destiny continues.
Special Tribute to Dr. Udeme Umo, from Jabborro PR
With over 20 years experience in the media, he has been inducted into The League of Veteran Journalists and made Chairman of the Elders’ Advisory Council. That may resemble an honour, but in the prevailing situation, where Nigeria is yet to experience liberty of the press and freedom of information, this induction means that Udeme’s fight destiny continues.
Special Tribute to Dr. Udeme Umo, from Jabborro PR
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