Media
Kogi 2023: Ex-NUJ Vice President Blasts Sen. Adeyemi on Poor Image
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Sen. Smart Adeyemi has been called upon to first redeem his image with his mother union, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) before aspiring to lead Kogi people as governor in 2023
Former NUJ Vice President, Zone D, Mr. Tims Ejigah, made the declaration on Saturday in a chat with newsmen at the NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja,
Ejigah has described Adeyemi, the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, as a politician with a “character baggage”, who might not easily win election for any political party.
The former VP, who was one of Adeyemi’s closest allies during his days as NUJ President and all through the time he began his journey into national politics, disclosed that the Senator had the habit of using and dumping those who assist him to rise to fame.
“If you check round you will discover that the senator has no positive records with the NUJ that he served as President for two terms.
“Some of us are very surprised that Adeyemi had joined the Kogi Governorship race because if elections were to be conducted today, and only journalists were to vote, over 80 per cent would vote against the senator.
“This is the more reason why I’m admonishing him to retrace his steps and ensure that he starts by redeeming his image within his NUJ family before thinking of governing Kogi.
“The most unfortunate thing about Smart Adeyemi is that he uses, dumps helpers and he can’t win election for any party,” he said.
The veteran journalist, who asked Adeyemi to mend his ways before aspiring for governorship, regretted that he (Adeyemi) was in the habit of drinking palm wine and breaking the keg without any remorse.
According to him, the senator would only be wasting the ticket of any political party that makes the mistake of making him their candidate.
“Whichever party he is struggling to get their ticket, he would be wasting that ticket if he emerges candidate. I am not God, but I say this based on his antecedents of use and dump tactics.
“Coming to our profession, if Smart Adeyemi wants journalists, serving, retired or veterans as we call ourselves, to vote for him for anything, he cannot have majority of votes.
“Every journalist in the country knows my loyalty and support for him. I want to say without any fear of contradiction that our former President (Adeyemi) is not the type that keeps relationships.
“You would remember the various campaigns of calumny by Smart Adeyemi against Abubakar Audu in the very eyes of the man before he died, calling him emperor and all. How would you do a thing like that for someone that you benefitted from very well?
“You would also recall how the current administration of Governor Yahaya Bello of APC recruited him from the PDP and gave him a third term in the Senate. Are they still singing Hosanna?”
“Narrowing down to the media profession, the veteran journalist noted, “He (Adeyemi) has no signature in our secretariat.
“I remember anytime he wants to do anything, he runs here to mobilize our colleagues and when I watch you, I laugh. Point blank, I expected that what Mohammed Garba has done in Kano, he should have been the first person to do it.
“Mohammed Garba, former President of NUJ, two terms like himself, has a plaza to the glory of Kano NUJ. This man (Adeyemi) has no kitchenette here. I don’t think NUJ members in Kogi State, practicing or retired, would give him support in what he is looking for. Charity, they say, begins at home.
“Everywhere you go, you see the signatures of past presidents in their local councils. You would see a state assembly legislator’s project in the Oyo State Secretariat and so on. Where is that of our former President?
“If per adventure, he gets the ticket of APC, it would be an exercise in futility. I’m not God,” he reiterated.
Media
Nami, Ex-FIRS Chairman Receives Top10 Magazine ‘Man of the Year 2023’ Award
Health
ICRC Trains 25 Journalists on First Aid Treatment in Yola
From Yagana Ali, Yola.
The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has organized a three -day training for 25 journalists on effective First Aid Treatment to prospective casualties.
The workshop, which took place in Yola drew the beneficiaries from different media houses across the state.
In a presentation, Communication Field Officer of the organization, Lemdi Edmond took the participants memory lane from its cradle to limelight.
He pointed out that ICRC intervenes basically in crises involving armed conflicts translating to man -made or unnatural disasters.
Edmond further explained that while the International Federation of the Red Cross intervenes in the area of natural disasters, like flood and earthquake, the National Red Cross Societies handles both natural and man – made situations.
The Communication Field Officer identified seven principles of the Committee to include humanity, impartiality,Neutrality and independence among others.
On their parts, First Aid and Pre-hospital Care Field Office Yola and Abuja respectively, Charity Maxwell and Daniel Ebodor jointly exposed the participants to the meaning, relevance and significance of the First Aid.
They maintained that First Aids basically aimed to save life, prevent condition from further deteriorating and promote speedy recovery.
They identified truthfulness, sympathy, resourcefulness, tolerance and empathy among others as qualities of a good First Aider.
The duo also enumerated and extensively explained Primary Survey variables relating to First Aid as Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and chest compression.
Interestingly, the participants were vigorously engaged in practical First Aid treatment on various aspects having to do with Burns, Fainting, Fracture and bleeding among others.
Highlights of the training were questions and answers, presentation of certificate and First Aid Kits to the participants
COVER
Newspaper Proprietors Decry Harsh Economy, Seek FG Bailout
By David Torough, Abuja
The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to support the print media to prevent it from going extinct.
Members of NPAN said this in Abuja, during a Business Lunch for some of their colleagues who were recently appointed as ministers.
Four members of the association were recently appointed as ministers by President Bola Tinubu.
They include Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy; Mr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
The President of NPAN, Malam Kabir Yusuf, said that the media deserved to be supported because it played an integral role in national development.
Yusuf commended Tinubu for finding so many members of the association worthy to be appointed as ministers.
The publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, and life patron of NPAN, Mr Sam Amuka, said that it was commendable to have four of his colleagues as ministers.
He advised the ministers to represent the association well, urging them to use their influence in government to ensure a free press.
“Let the Newspapers Breathe,” he told the Ministers as he emphasised the need for Federal government intervention to save the Newspaper industry from imminent collapse.
“The Newspapers are losing revenues everyday,” Amuka stated.
In his response, the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, assured the association that Tinubu’s economic reforms would be beneficial to all individuals and groups within the country.
Edun urged members of NPAN to support the government by being factual and objective in their reportage.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who described himself as an NPAN ambassador in government, urged journalists to be analytical and to always resist the temptation to peddle falsehood.
“Do not join the crowd to peddle falsehood, ” he said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described himself as the luckiest information minister in history.
Malagi said that his plan was to change the face of government communication.
“Trust in the communication coming out of government will be encouraged.
“I will not tell lies; I will say it the way it is. You people should also report it the way it is, ” he said.
He said that the government would also take steps to restore the integrity of public broadcasting by equipping and empowering government-owned broadcast houses.
Also present at the business lunch was veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, as well as prominent senior Nigerian journalists, proprietors, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and that of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba( additional reports from NAN)