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UDEME UMO: THE REMNANT OF JOURNALISTS WHO FOUGHT IN NIGERIA



IBB through a Rootnews lens
There was a time when all hope was lost concerning the restoration of the rule of Law in this Nigeria. There had been a civil war; hope for inclusive economic development was gone forever; numerous coups had taken place, 7 of them bloody; high profile assassinations were no longer news; there was no hiding place anymore for civil rights voices – still there was a remnant of journalists who dared the “all-powerful” military government with the untainted truth. Few they were; and even fewer survived, while an embarrassingly few are remembered today. Udeme Umo is one.

How many people claim to have fought for the democracy of Nigeria? Numerous. Hilarious; Politicians, Diplomats, Unionists, Civil Rights activists, Religious leaders, Lawyers, media men, and even some in the same military. If we adopt their definition for the word;”fight”, then they probably did, yes. Anyways, though we haven’t arrived at Democracy, we’ve gone far from the Military era. Not too far, but far enough for people to lose interest in the prices that were paid by others in the fight for the restoration of the rule of law.
What It Will Mean, Fighting For Nigeria
For today, ‘Fighting for Nigeria’ will not accommodate the Civil War soldiers who battled for Nigeria to remain one. Why? Because the military caused the war, so they only fought to correct their error. You may, in a sense, conclude that they have cancelled out their gaffe that threatened Nigeria’s oneness. But they followed up the civil war with even more crimes against the Nigerian state. No disrespect for the loyal, professional and patriotic soldiers who executed their job in putting their lives on the line for Nigeria – “Twale!” to such. God bless their souls – but let’s look today at civilians who were armed with nothing but courage, intellect, faith, biros, voices and selflessness.
Journalism gets covert

The Truth Had To Upset Nobody, Or Else…
Back then, every state was headed by a soldier. There was an era they were referred to as Military Governors and then they began to be called Military Administrators. They basically were in place to do what the Soldier at the presidency wanted in their states. If you told the truth then, you had to be sure it wasn’t going to upset nobody. And if you upset the man at the state, you were an enemy of the man at the presidency. And among other horrifying threats, your life was on the line.
The Rootnews That Dared Say The Truth
In the heat of such a time, in Akwa Ibom State, a young man, about 30, dared start a media organization that would say the truth no matter who was upset. He called it Rootnews; he was called Udeme Umo. The man took on any subject of interest as far as it would serve people; from investigating into cold blooded murders, to reporting from haunted locations, to facing flying bullets, to interviewing dreaded spiritists, to confronting I-am-God claims, he became a thorn in the flesh of “tin gods” who thrived in a society with a high fear-factor culture. The slogan of Rootnews was in fact, an expression of the heart of the Editor-in-Chief; it was the same in theory and in experience – “serving the people”. And, whoever serves people attracts people. So, it didn’t take long for Rootnews to garner a good followership. His influence still strongly lingers in the journalism field with the likes of Anayo Okoli of Vanguard and Grace Akpan of the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Information, still very active.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, while receiving his award from the League of Veteran Journalists(LVJ), as the first Senior Advocate of Responsible Journalism (SARJ), stated that Akwa Ibom currently has about 102 local tabloids; while Chief Emmanuel Esifa, the Akwa Ibom state chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, noted that around 20 years ago, there were only about 3 newspapers operating in Akwa Ibom State, of which Rootnews was leading.

Who The Hell Is Udeme Umo?!
The state military government took notice immediately. Someone was making a mess of the governments weak public relations efforts. “Who the hell is this guy?” They asked with flames blowing out of their nostrils, “and what’s giving him the nerve?” In no time, uniforms were turning up at Rootnews offices – the company had grown to occupy two properties in Uyo. Chief Esifa explains that, back in the days, Rootnews was as threatening “though in a positive way” as the state’s current most hostile newspaper.



Who Kill Dele Giwa?
Most times, like Jesus in the bible, the man they came looking for slipped through their fingers and they would resort to confiscating or destroying assets. Family members began to disappear, kidnapped by no one can confirm who. What eye witnesses can confirm is the fact that the cars that took the missing persons had the green number plate. Fela sang back then in the days of a leading journalist, Dele Giwa’s assassination; “who kill Dele Giwa? Na Baba! If you add –Ngida, na you sabi” The people knew who was after Udeme Umo just as, in Lagos, years earlier, people knew who had terminated Dele Giwa; but no one could come out to point fingers. Few times, though, trust the military bosses, they found the Rootnews man to arrest. They’d threaten, negotiate, entice, detain etc. But Rootnews refused to flinch.

Pressures Mounting On An Adamant Man
People began to advise the staff of Rootnews; “can’t you guys drop some news items?” Initially, they’d reply, “No. That’s what we stand for. We say the truth, and we stand for justice”. But later, as pressure bore on, they began to stutter in their defense of Rootnews. Besides the threats the company daily faced from armed uniform men, sponsors began to withdraw, hence economic pressure grew. Staff began to advise their boss; “Oga, we need to soft pedal o”. But an adamant journalist, Udeme Umo simply refused to give in.

Rootnews Melted
And till today, 22 years after Rootnews packed out of her offices, and the organization melted, Udeme Umo refuses to give in. Yes, the pressures had so mounted on the newspaper house that it could not remain solid. It melted. But that’s what it did, melt. Which means it could reemerge if the conditions are right.

The Man Kept The Fight
But the man Umo did not give up fighting. He began to work as a media consultant for several organizations. His post-Rootnews journey took him into politics, as he joined the ranks of civil minded men who mounted pressure from under, trying to get the military government to give way to democracy. When Ika people needed a local government, Udeme was there to fight for them – he became recognised as the “Asanga Usung Ika” years later. When the Annangs, then considered minority in Akwa Ibom state, wanted Itai State, Udeme was there to labour for that dream – he became the “Uko Annang”, a title conferred on him by the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene, the powerful His Royal Majesty Okuku Etim Akpan Udo Ntepkere (late), and the president of Echid Uko Annang, an influential socio-political organization that was known for her fighting spirit. Udeme Umo was just one unbendable fighter. His kind didn’t survive easily. In his case, the fighter lives but the fearful die. So, even though his paper was killed, his passion remained.

The Fight Continues
When the League of Veteran Journalists, Akwa Ibom State chapter, decided to look for those remnants of journalists who practiced the profession in perilous days and survived till date, they didn’t search for long when they ran into the handsome features of the all-welcoming Udeme Umo. Still serving people, still fighting for Nigeria, still bearing burdens in diverse ways, now a man of God and father to numerous young people, now a Dr. Udeme Umo, the man was not hard to find.

With over 20 years experience in the media, he has been inducted into The League of Veteran Journalists and made Chairman of the Elders’ Advisory Council. That may resemble an honour, but in the prevailing situation, where Nigeria is yet to experience liberty of the press and freedom of information, this induction means that Udeme’s fight destiny continues.

Special Tribute to Dr. Udeme Umo, from Jabborro PR


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