Word of advice to Adamu Adamu and others

“If it is to make a choice between society without government and society without media, you make that of society without government.”
--- Former American President.
Political commentators, activists and columnists took the pages of Trust newspaper since last month on the questions which Shehu Mustapha Chaji asked Malam Adamu Adamu, a columnist with the paper in respect of Bauchi State 's political fracas.
Adamu Adamu means different things to different people. To some, he is an intellectual who has distinguished himself in a dominated media industry, others think he is an outstanding and diligent columnist, while others think of him as an activist.
I read many articles ranging in the media, from Shehu Mustapha Chaji's piece to Adamu Adamu to John Danfulani to Yusuf Gamawa and the recent one which I read on page 12 of Thursday, August 6, 2009, edition of Daily Trust by Hamisu Gumel.
Thank God, we are in democratic dispensation which gives freedom of expression, thoughts, ideas, opinion, objection, criticism etc. To be candid, no society can truly develop or progress without journalism. It is journalism that makes people to know the happenings of the society and to make their own contributions for stability, unity and progress.
Of course, Yusuf Gamawa, Hamisu Gumel and Shehu Chaji has the constitutional rights to write and query Malam Adamu Adamu over his silence on the present political brouhaha in Bauchi State, because even the Almighty God stated in the Holy Qur'an that “Ask those who know, if you don't.”
It was Shehu Chaji's article that made Malam Adamu Adamu to open up in the second part of his column of Friday, July 31, 2009, titled, “Talking silly on Bauchi II.” It was then that many people knew what they don't know about the role played by Malam Adamu Adamu. It was when Chaji asked that people came to know.
Journalism is the timely reporting of events at the local, provincial, national and the international levels. In journalism, there are many challenges. Most times, it is a very risky job. Anything can happen to you as a journalist. As a journalist, some or most times you don't have choice, you have to tell the truth, you have to be fair. You must not be biased. You must bear in mind that you have the power of the pen in your hands. Malam Adamu, this power has to be used fairly to change the society for better no matter what.
As a journalist, you must not accept bribe, be biased or anything related to that. You must desist from any practice that can bring about degrading of the journalism profession (or you in person).
To be a good journalist, you must have a curious mind, endurance, self control, patience, tolerance, understanding, dedication, perseverance and lots more. You should have an eye for what is different. You should also be interested in societal progress. Again, to be a good journalist, you can study anything and write on many things.
In short, it takes a lot to be a good journalist. But nowadays, people fail and others defend people when they fail to admit their mistakes, when they commit one. We hope and pray that Nigerian journalists will try to be fair, and balanced their reporting for societal changes and progress, peaceful coexistence, political stability, mutual understanding and national development.
In a nutshell, I appeal to Malam Adamu Adamu to know that neither Shehu Chaji nor John Danfulani has anything personal against him, as Hamisu rightly stated in his article. John was not instigating the media against you. All of us are exercising our constitutional right in a democratic system of government.
Malam Adamu Adamu, what gives people hope and meaning is the pursuit of meaningful and noble purpose. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about issues that bother us.
One of the easiest ways to change your society is to help others achieve their dreams. Malam Adamu, you should use the opportunity of being a renowned columnist to change the society for good.

Adamu Muhd Usman wrote from Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State.
adammusman@yahoo.com
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