The role of journalists as watchdogs of the society has been re-echoed again in Kano when the NUJ honoured Governor Ganduje and three others. BASHIR MOHAMMED writes.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is someone born with a golden spoon considering his background and also the fact that he carved a niche for himself in the academia, having attended one of the revered premier universities in the country, the University of Ibadan, where he bagged distinction during his time.
He had undoubtedly attained the academic feat at a time some of his childhood friends were reticent to join the academic train for inexplicable reasons.
As a wonderkind who had attained the height of honour, Ganduje bagged a doctorate degree in Public Administration as if he had the premonition that he would one day enter public service to deliver with a midas touch.
To that extent, he had survived all conspiracy theories and the crafty political shenanigans of his detractors who had frantically battled to pull him down.
Being at the top echelon of leadership in the state, Ganduje has encountered turbulent waters but crossed the rubicon in the course of achieving his goal, a feat that made the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kano Correspondents Chapel under the leadership of Comrade Ibrahim Garba to honour him along with his wife, Professor Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and two other prominent sons of the state.
It was the chapel’s belief that the award given to him, his lovely wife, Professor Garba Umar Dambatta , executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and renowned business mogul, Alhaji Isiyaku Umar Tofa was conceived after a careful scrutiny of their respective dossiers towards the development of the country.
The event attracted notable gurus in the media industry and some top shots from the academia in addition to political elites who believe that it was expedient to rejoice with the awardees for their giant strides.
Ganduje went down memory laneThe governor, who arrived the venue clad in his flowing gown along his entourage, almost kept the listening audience spell-bound at the time his citation was read after which he responded to the historic award given to him by the chapel.
It was during his response that he vowed to ensure that every child in Kano has unhindered access to free, compulsory and qualitative education.
He affirmed his desire to ensure that every Almajiri in the state benefits from his free, compulsory basic and secondary education policy, even though most of them are children from neighbouring states.
He described the status of Kano as one with the highest number of out-of-school children in the country, saying it is a challenge that must be faced and defeated.
According to him, with the free school feeding programne and free education policy in place, all children in Kano now has the privilege to be educated just as he charged parents to take advantage of the ample opportunity to send their wards to school for a better future.
He appreciated the award bestowed on him by the chapel, saying, “We are happy that you identified with the heavily-loaded statement we made here in Kano which is free, compulsory basic and secondary education for our children.
“We are happy we are sending our children to school free-of-charge. We are happy that we are sending the Almajiri to go and learn just like other children. We want to live a legacy and we believe that journalists are our partners in progress.”
Ganduje who was visibly excited, recalled how he met and recruited his commissioner of information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who was a two-time president of NUJ into politics.
According to him, “I have been partnering with journalists in all my public life. My present commissioner for information was the chairman of Kano council of the NUJ when I was the commissioner for works.
“Then, I discovered him and saw him as someone that can work with me. He climbed up to the position of NUJ deputy president (North-West); he later became NUJ president, did his second-term and also headed the African Union of Journalists.
“I am telling you this story not because he is working for me but because he used his wealth of experience to assist me. NUJ is very important and indispensable in the art of governance.
“Journalists are part of governance. You criticise us, our policies and you make us get down to work.
“Sometimes, your reports get us angry; sometimes, your reports make us to laugh, but in all, you put us on our feet and always remind us about the mandate we have with the people. Indeed, you are partners in progress and we would continue to partner with you for the development of our dear state and the welfare of the good people of Kano state.”
NCC would do more – DanbattaIn his remarks, the executive vice chairman of NCC, Professor Danbatta who was also honoured for his commitment to digital communication and cyber security in Nigeria, described journalists as professionals that are indispensable to national development.
Danbatta who assured Nigerians that NCC would do everything possible to ensure that they get adequate services from service providers, confessed that the achievements recorded so far under his watch at NCC would not have been possible without the partnership, contribution and cooperation of the media.
He appreciated journalists for helping to disseminate the activities of NCC while assuring Nigerians that the commission has already solved the problem of receiving unsolicitated messages from service providers, adding that in recent times, over one million complaints received from telecoms consumers were resolved.
Journalists deserve better deals – Guest speaker
Delivering his lecture entitled: ‘Media and Good Governance: Issues and Challenges’, the guest speaker, Prof Balarabe Maikaba, lamented the poor living condition of journalists in the country and called on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps towards addressing it.
Prof Balarabe who is a senior lecturer of Mass Communications Bayero University Kano insisted that journalists in the country deserve better pay packages just like their colleagues in developed countries, considering the risks and hazards attached to their jobs.
He, however, advised journalists to adhere strictly to the codes and ethics that guide the profession in order to desist from what he called blackmail, yellow journalism and sensational reporting.
Chapel chairman speaksIn his welcome address, chairman of the chapel, Comrade Garba said, “Today marks a new dawn in the history of our great chapel. What we are witnessing today is the maiden edition of the chapel’s appreciation award ceremony designed to reward diligence, excellence and uncommon achievements in governance, public administration and success in business, arts and others areas of endeavours.
“By the special grace of God, this event would be holding annually. It is our belief that this is a better way to encourage leaders and administrators to put in their best and use their positions to change lives and the society for the better.
“I am pleased to say that my leadership in line with the oath I sworn to has continued to do its best to ensure the welfare of our members. I and members of my executive have continued to rekindle the hope of our members as well as instilling discipline and the spirit of unionism.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I appreciate our own, the Honourable commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, for his continued support to the progress of the chapel and welfare of our members. We are also grateful to the commissioner for local government, Mutala Sule Garo and the chief of staff, Alhaji Ali Makoda, for the roles they played towards the success of this programme.
“Space would not permit me to mention other members of Governor Ganduje’s cabinet who have been very friendly and helpful. I am also grateful to the Kano State director, Department of State Security Service and other security chiefs who were supportive to the success of this programme.
“As the watchdog of the society, we would continue to hold government accountable and ensure that good governance is always in place for the development of the society and good living standard of the masses. Once again, I welcome you to this programme and I say a big congratulations to the awardees.”
However, with the prestigious award eliciting considerable interest from eminent personalities invited to grace the occasion, many of them believed that the governors has a firm control over the state. They expressed the opinion that with the clean bill of health given by the leadership of the chapel, nothing can stand against his resolve to move Kano to the next level.
CommendationsAccording to Shiekh Dauda Lokon Makera, who recited some verses from the Quran to close the occasion, the leadership of the chapel has demonstrated high degree of professionalism in presenting the awards to the recipients knowing that it would inspire others to tow their paths.
According to him, from all intents and purposes, Ganduje has proved himself as a leader, having made his marks in all spheres of human endeavour with his vast array of physical infrastructure over-looking all the nooks and crannies of the state. He stressed that without resilience, such stunning feat could not have been achieved.
Speaking in the same vein, a renowned chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Musa Danbirni, said both the governor and other eminent awardees deserve special commendation for making the event colourful. He praised the chapel leadership for a job well done.
It was, however, the contention of notable stakeholders in the media that with the political elites realising that journalists are indispensable in the society, there is a compelling need for paradigm shift in making the relationship to wax stronger devoid of primordial sentiment.
