Dear Comrade President,
I write to you today with deep respect and renewed admiration following your swift and decisive intervention in the recent case of our colleagues, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, Plateau State.
Their arrest by security operatives while carrying out their constitutional duties shook the confidence of many journalists across the country. But your timely action, which led to their immediate release, once again reaffirmed what purposeful leadership means in the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
This is not the first time you have stepped in promptly to protect our members from intimidation or injustice. At different times in the past months, you have proven that you understand the weight of the office you hold and the hopes of thousands of journalists who look up to the NUJ national leadership for protection.
Your willingness to engage directly with the Director-General of the DSS, extract an apology, and secure the release of the journalists shows that you not only value press freedom but also insist on respect for the dignity of our members. For this, I salute you.
Sir, leadership by example has always been the strongest currency of our union’s credibility. Your action reflects the proud tradition of past NUJ leaders who stood firmly for the cause of press freedom and the welfare of journalists.
From the days of Mallam Lateef Kayode Jakande in the 1960s, who set the tone for principled unionism; to the bold stances of figures like Lanre Arogundade, who was never afraid to confront military dictatorship; to Waheed Odusile, who prioritised professional development and training for journalists, the union has thrived on courageous leaders who stood in the gap for their members.
We cannot also forget Mohammed Garba, who steered the union with pragmatism, maintaining the balance between government engagement and union independence.
These leaders, though faced with unique challenges of their times, shared one thing in common: a refusal to abandon journalists in moments of need.
They carried the weight of unionism with conviction and always placed members’ rights above personal comfort or political calculation. Comrade President, your interventions so far align you with this rich legacy.
It is worthy of note that unlike some state council leaders who, perhaps out of fear or lack of preparation for the task of unionism, often abandon members to their fate, you have consistently demonstrated that a union’s power lies in its unity of purpose and its willingness to fight for its people.
That is why I must humbly place another challenge before you as you approach your first year in office. Beyond responding to crises, it is equally important to address internal weaknesses threatening the foundation of our union.
Across many state councils, reports abound of leaders who operate outside the spirit and letters of our constitution. Some councils run in secrecy, without accountability to their members. Others engage in serial constitutional violations, misconduct, and actions that divide rather than unite members.
These practices not only weaken the NUJ but also erode the confidence of journalists in their union.
If these internal issues are left unattended, they will continue to undermine the credibility of the union at the grassroots level, no matter the excellent strides you make at the national stage.
I therefore urge you to beam your searchlight on state councils across the country. Put in place mechanisms to audit their activities, enforce accountability, and ensure transparency in their operations.
Councils that deliberately subvert the constitution or abandon members when they are in trouble should be called to order, sanctioned where necessary, and reoriented to the values of true unionism.
Comrade President, this is not a call to witch-hunt but a call to reform. Just as you have earned respect through swift action on matters of press freedom, you can cement your legacy by restoring discipline and integrity within our own house.
The NUJ constitution must never be treated as a paper decoration. It must guide our actions at all times, from the smallest chapel to the national level.
As you know, journalism in Nigeria today is under immense pressure from economic hardship, political intimidation, and even technological disruptions.
In such a climate, journalists need a union that stands firmly by them, not one that wavers when they need it most. We need leaders who will not disassociate from their members in times of trial just to appear in the good books of those in power. What strengthens a union is not silence or compliance but courage and solidarity.
Your intervention in Jos has shown us a glimpse of the NUJ that can be: a union that speaks with one voice, defends its members, and commands respect from the authorities.
My appeal is that you replicate this same energy across the state councils, to ensure that no journalist feels abandoned or unprotected within our fold.
Sir, I commend your courage, consistency, and commitment. You have, in less than a year, added feathers of respect not only to your cap but also to the collective cap of our union.
As you prepare to mark your first 12 months in office, may history remember you not only as a president who defended press freedom but also as one who reformed the NUJ into a stronger, more accountable, and more united family.
Kudos once again, Comrade President. You have my support and that of many other comrades who still believe in the ideals of unionism that bind us together.
Respectfully,
Dare Akogun
Sobi FM Chapel,
Kwara State Council,
Nigeria Union of Journalists.
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