By Dominic Kidzu
It took an early morning call from one of the national officers of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to spur me to this cause of action, which I consider to be in the specific regard of the corporation, the protection of the identity of the newspaper and the wider interest of Cross River as a state and corporate entity.
Your Excellency, please accept the full assurances of my deep regards, my most excellent intentions in applauding your good works in the short period that you have been governor and the great hope that you provide for the gradual repair of our dear state which had been systematically despoiled and fallen into destitute before the advent of your administration.
Your Excellency, I have been sorely worried about the desolate state of the great Nigerian Chronicle which the founding fathers of our dear state created. Even though the premises of the corporation now look like the ruins of an ancient empire, as a result of the #EndSARS protest, my pressing concern is on the editorial dimension, content and supervision. It is with profound concern that I inform the governor that what comes out of the stables of the corporation today is nothing better than a rag sheet from the press Club of an average secondary school press club.
For the avoidance of doubt, this same newspaper groomed great Nigerians like Dr Clement Ebri, Prof. Pat Utomi, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Chief Ray Ekpu, the late Honourable Bankong Obi, Elder Oqua Itu, Chief Michael Mon, Chief P. C. Okem, late Unimke Nawa, the former Head of Service, Timothy Ogbang Akwaji, Sam Egbala, also a Permanent Secretary in your administration and my humble self, who was General Manager for six years before I resigned to pursue a political career. All of us, at various times, defended the professional integrity of the newspaper and upheld the highest universal standards in journalism and media practice.
Your Excellency, I recall with nostalgia that I was Press Secretary to Governor Donald Duke when the father of another of your predecessors, Senator Imoke passed. Because The Nigerian Chronicle had published a special edition on the life and times of the late Elder Dr Samuel Imoke, I took many copies of the paper to the burial ceremony. I can never forget the way the then-governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Ominyi Egu, received his copy. He even came to tears while telling me about the great part The Nigerian Chronicle played in his education and enlightenment as a young man. That is the great legacy that Cross River State nurtured.
At its apogee, The Nigerian Chronicle circulated in London, New York, Washington, Paris and other western European capitals. Pat Utomi was designated as Washington Bureau Chief. It was a household name and an intellectual reference point both for academics and the political class. This is part of why we should not trifle with such a profound asset, no matter the fortunes of the state and the circumstances of our economy. I hear from credible sources that the governor plans to renovate the CRNC complex. Your Excellency, I am grateful even before the deep itself is done and pray that the Almighty gives you the enablement to do so.
Unfortunately, the newspaper has fallen into weak hands with the surprising appointment of a retired administrative staff as General Manager. Miss Keyu Edet served the corporation in the Administration department, she dealt with files throughout her career in the corporation. Not once was she involved in story writing, editing, page planning or production. Unfortunately has become a guest at her own wedding, being such as she is, a complete novice in the profession, which is why the publication is no longer readable, a sham that is embarrassing the solid reputation the erstwhile Nigerian Chronicle has built for itself and the state. This level of mediocrity is unprecedented in the history of the corporation. Her appointment from an obscure retiree to GM was shrouded in secrecy, being neither announced nor published. It was a ghostly transmutation that left a lot of questions unanswered.
What is worse is that the few editorial staff still available at the corporation are complaining that Miss Keyu Edet is power drunk and insists that all stories must be vetted by her before they go to press. How can a greenhorn edit a professional, you want to ask. Your Excellency, I am a journalist, so you cannot appoint me as Accountant General of the state or Attorney General when I am not a lawyer, abinitio. An Admin Officer equally can not act in the office of the commissioner of health. The situation at the newspaper corporation calls for an urgent redress, Sir, and I am quite confident that as a listening governor, you will ultimately put things to right to save our dear CHRONICLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION, YOUR EXCELLENCY.
With the most excellent intentions and best wishes from your humble and loyal servant.
DOMINIC KIDZU
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