I have been in the Local Media since from the era, where Governor Godswill Akpabio, will announce a token of fifty thousand naira each to participants in a media conference, but, reporters will struggle to go home with a paltry sum of two thousand naira from the Leadership of the then chapel.
A period where truth was sub-changed for falsehood; cabal, cartel and ‘illegal Journalism’ were in proliferation, a beer parlor along Jubilee School road, Uyo was seen as ‘an office’ of the local media. Everyone trooped in there to show his/her loyalty and support to a very few people, who were acclaimed demigod. Local media, then, operated an Oligarchy system of government. Very few amassed the wealth, progress and the integrity of the profession.
The few become the king kong of the Local Media. They bargained without the knowledge of others, paraded themselves as faces of the Local Tabloids, even when some didn’t have basic requirement to practice as was shown during the screening of one of them, who contested for a seat in the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in 2013 election.
In those days, the ability to blackmail, assassinate one’s character as well as cajoled politicians with juicy award were in vogue. Anyone who refuses to follow the trend was blackmailed and sometimes nearly beaten. Frankly speaking, Journalism was seen as occult venture, Ubong Otung, a qualified journalist used to attribute such antics as OCCULTIC WISDOM. According to him, ‘the act of duping a politician with juicy offer was wisdom taken from demonic domain’.
Surprisingly, some who held unto this believe, made a short-lived headway in life. They were somehow elevated, some to secular politics, others to ranks higher in the profession. However, since their motive and elevation were conceived in illegality, the God of seed time and harvest time, made them not to plan their exit. Today, they want to come back and bastardize the profession, after which the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists; Elder Patrick Albert has tried in his measures to sanitize the union.
Desperation has lured these hustlers to bastardize the tested and proven integrity of the Governor, his cabinet members and even the Political Leader of Ikono Local Government Area, Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo. In their myopic reasoning, they blackmail and thereafter pretend as if they will use their fake nomenclature to solve the attack on government personalities.
Politicians who are carried away by their criminal technique are conveyed with Patron, Grand Patron and Overall Patron-ship award, while those who refuse to adhere to their infantile gimmicks are penciled down for character assassination.
It was during the era of dishonestly in the Local Media cycle, that Mr. Uko Umoh, popularly called UKO BIAFRA came on board. After careful examination of the dubiousness that trailed Local tabloids, before his emergence, Uko Umoh, sets his standard and demarcated himself and his Newspaper Company from the general practice associated with fraudsters of those days.
First and foremost, he ensured that, his outfit has an office accommodation and also paid his staff salary as at when due. Being a detribalized man, he employed everybody, notwithstanding the tribe, race and otherwise in his company. The Ibibios, Oros, Annangs, Ekid, Obolos, Ibenos among others were staff of Community Pulse Newspapers, his then Newspaper platform. Even the Igbos, Yorubas were also part and parcel of the Newspaper now known as National Pulse.
So far, plenty of his former staffers are now Publishers of local Newspapers. The Likes of Managing Directors of Global Post, Global Concord, the Ink, Newslink, Community Quest, Central Times, the Point, Analysts, Anchore Express, Community Script to mention only ten were his staff.
As if that wasn’t enough, he took as a point of duty to build the younger ones working in his employ. For instance, he nurtured, bred and took absolute care of his then Managing Editor, Master Ifreke Nsewo and even went as far as giving him a sense of belonging by flying him to Russia, a place, the editor visited for the very first time in his life. The said Nsewo started working with Mr. Uko Umoh, shortly after his SSCE, stayed there and gained journalistic experience till he graduated last year from University of Uyo. He rose from Graphic Artist, to Entertainment Editor and Later Managing Editor before something happened and he decided to leave the scene.
In the media cycle, thinkers portray Mr. Uko Umoh as a free man who loves people even more than himself. His action towards people speaks volume. Off course, for a single medium, which gave birth in 2008, to have produced more than ten publishers within 7years of existence is a feat that should be applauded. No newspaper publisher in Akwa Ibom State has been able to surpass such achievement. Such feat can only trail a man with large heart.
Despite various forms of blackmail triggered on this erudite Etinan born chap, his seal to better the lots of the people has not changed. He was one of the Publishers, who used to and has constantly been doling out advertorials to fellow publishers without looking for his percentage.
Prior to the inauguration of this present administration, we had different sets of people, who were in-charge of the local Media, both to the governor and as chairmen of Local Media Chapels; some view their elevation as an opportunity to boost and also prove to the world how far they can travel out of this country. Others perceived theirs as a slot to sleep in hotels with prostitutes.
In this state, we have a journalist, now a public figure, whose stock in trade is to upload his pictures on the internet, whenever he is oversea. He tends to forget that, gesture, whether moral, financial or otherwise, given to a younger colleague is worthwhile.
Each time, I analyze some Media folks who gave deaf ear to the younger generation, when God elevated them, but later want to come back to dominate the profession, I tend to wonder, if they are in their right senses.
Uko Umoh, came into the Local Media with the mindset of righting the anomalies. Little wonder why, his appointment as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Media was heralded with ovation; The entire Reporters under the aegis of Reporters’ Forum, published a full page advertorial on pages of both Local and National Tabloids congratulating the governor for his emergence.
So far, he has not belittled the confidence reposed on him by the governor and the media community in the state. This may have been the reason why the State Chief Executive Unanimously gave him the power to welcome Binsa Group, a leading company in Germany on behalf of the state government. He delivered on the trust bestowed on him by the governor as perceived from the wordings of Engr. Stufa, the helmsman of the company.
His relationship with the Chief Press Secretary to the governor is superb, not like others who saw the position as a channel to blackmail the CPS on Local Media. It was through this superlative relationship, that Uko was able to dole out more than thirty advertorial on Inauguration of Transition Chairman and members to Local Newspapers- A feat which has never happen, since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria.
Suffice to add that, within one month in office, he was able to produce and publish a landslide achievement of his boss, 100 days in office. The magazine was adjudged the best by pundits, while the governor commended him for a job well done.
Each time, I examine the benevolence of the S.A On Local Media to the governor, to the people; I am usually assured that, he will, go places, politically, economically and otherwise. If Media Practitioners were to be so accessible, approachable like him, I guess, dividend of Democracy would have reached all the segments of the society.
A man, who broke the jinx during Yuletide season, by doling out Bags of rice and cash to all Local Newspaper Publishers in the state, his predecessors were unable to do that, he ensured that, all publishing Newspapers, some non existing ones, were entitled to bags of rice and cash during yuletide season.
Let me pause here and say that, if all governor’s aides could emulate the gigantic strides of Mr. Uko Umoh, hatred channeled on the executive governor would have been reduced to its barest minimum.
As a person, I pitch my tent with the leadership strides of Uko Umoh, I support him in all ramification of life, I wish to also notify the governor and those who care to listen that, the inclusion of this man in the governor’s team is a plus and a welcome development.
Exception of his constant nagging and luring me as well as other people to support the governor of the state, I don’t have a problem with him. I only wish he should reduce his tempo of canvassing for the governor of the state. Yes, he is UGE’s aide, but his seal of drumming support for the governor is loyalty taken too far. I don’t like it.
Mr. Umoh has placed a premium on the office of Local Media to the governor. After his stay, the office will never be business as usual. Anybody appointed into that office will know that, it is an avenue to better the lots of the people. Such person will know that, it is an avenue to promote the welfare of colleagues no matter the divides.
Umoh has demarcated himself and his family from the general practices. He has shown people that, a friend in government is not a friend lost.
In his little capacity, he has hosted the leadership and members of Federated Chapel of NUJ, hosted Leadership and Stakeholders of Consolidated Chapel of NUJ, during a courtesy Calls on him, and he is still planning big for others in time to come. I don’t want to talk about how he drew other media personnel’s of the governor to attend the birthday celebration of the Publisher of The Guide Newspaper last year. That has been overtaken by events, so I would not delve into that.
If the governor listens carefully to his submission, I have no doubt, that very soon; there will be no disgruntle elements in the Local Media. He holds the key of David as far as the local media is concern, but he would never blackmail, just to be relevant.
The Leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists may have seen this charismatic attitude of his, before pleading with him, to chair the Building Project committee of the State Union. He is known as the bridge builder, world changer and a dynamic philanthropist.
On my part, I think, Mr. Uko Umoh is a square peg in a Square hole and a plus for the government of Akwa Ibom State. I only wish he can stop bothering me on supporting the government of the day and allow me to be apolitical.
#AkwaIbom
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