The cerebral Queen Mother of Anioma Nation and Mother To All (NNEOHA), HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu has been described as a Quintessential Mother and Watchdog Leader, who has continued to play critical role that engenders peace and harmony amongst individuals and groups within Delta and beyond.
This statement was made by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, when he led some members of his State Working Committee to visit with the Omu at her Palace in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ikeogwu started his speech by eulogizing the sterling leadership qualities of the Omu, not just as a person who has continued to stand out in the traditional institution, but as a veteran that has left her footprints on the sand of time in the Media Constituency.
The NUJ Chairman said it has become imperative for him and some members of his Exco to come to brief her on recent happenings in NUJ and to apologise on behalf of all journalists in the State over the recent show of shame exhibited on the public space by some supposed members of the pen pushing profession.
His words, “We have decided to make this visit ahead of our Congress which holds a few hours from now. Let me start by saying that you mean so much to us, Our Queen Mother. You have always demonstrated that you are a True Mother To All and Mother Without Borders.
“We in NUJ are special children to you. Your love and care towards us are unquantifiable. You are not one of those who after making their marks in journalism and media consultancy, left and abandoned the media Constituency. You have continued to show interest in our affairs both at the National, Zonal and State levels, including other arms of the Union like NAWOJ.
“The recent happenings between the leadership of the NUJ and that of Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) was unfortunate. We were discredited unjustly. May be we would have reacted, but for your timely intervention, we decided to respect your motherly advice, the stool of Omu Anioma and professional experience to sheathe the sword.
“A lot has happened Your Majesty; but as the singular leadership of the Media Constituency in the State, we have come to apologise for all that happened. Wherever our actions and deeds had negatively affected your person and office, we say sorry Your Majesty. Pardon us, forgive us as your children and younger colleagues.
“Your throne is ordained, that is why we will continue to revere you. Our prayer is that you live long to continue to empower people with your undiluted intelligence, line of thoughts and blessings.
“We as the leadership of NUJ in the State have tried as much as possible to run a transparent administration. We will continue to do that, and even improve for the betterment of our Union.
“Once again Your Majesty, I tender unreserved apologies on behalf of the entire journalists in the State, for disrespecting your stand that the media must watch itself internally. Thank you ma”, Ikeogwu apologised.
In her response, Omu Dunkwu commended the NUJ Chairman and his team for visiting, adding that they shouldn’t have bothered, because NUJ as a body didn’t disrespect her.
She advised the Chairman to continue to unite the practitioners for the purpose of focusing on the constitutional mandates of the media and not to fight amongst themselves.
She averred that the fight was unnecessary as the aggrieved members could have sought for further negotiations and settlement using the internal mechanisms for resolving issues after disagreeing.
According to her, “This is my Constituency for well over 40 years now. It’s my duty to point out to my colleagues when I see things that are wrong. Besides, nobody told me of any issue, my attention was only drawn to the trending press release by DOPF. And as usual, I quickly intervened to stop further escalation of the issue; I even gave a promisory note to their chairman to sort out the differential in case the parent body does not adjust. The same way I spoke to him was the same way I spoke to you as NUJ Chairman.
“The reason I am doing all of these is because, the media already has a bad name in Nigeria; it is wrong of the practitioners to continue to escalate it with their own hands. This is why I wrote a piece decades ago that ‘The Watchdog Must Be Watched’.
“Your apology is accepted my Chairman. I have already told the DOPF group what to do. I am a pragmatist and if we must get it right in Journalism and Public Relations, we must always listen to the voice of reason.
“However, you must understand that you are the leader. As a leader, people will knock on your head. If you have not been knocked, then you are not a leader. I have seen things and I have continued to weather on, because I am a triple shock absorber. See yourself as having the capacity to manage crisis when they come to you as a leader.
“It is well with you. It is well with the NUJ as an entity, and it is well with every journalist in Delta and Nigeria”, Omu Dunkwu concluded with prayers.
