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 ...Talibabaa >Abuja<

...Nobody has the monopoly to cantankerous cacophony in the media space

Criticism is one of the acceptable norms of democratic liberties in saner climes and in an egalitarian society, while constructive criticism is among very essential ingredients needed for growth and positive development in democratic settings. However, ill motivated, I'll conceived, or criticism borne out of hate or bad taste which most times are referred to as blind criticism, constitutes huge unhealthy clog on the wheel of progress in any society.

If not for the relatively young age of WikkiTimes publisher, one would have concluded that he is a student of the old-path Unionism, the pre-colonial style of action groups that operated through protests, confrontations and sometimes violence, without first exhausting all channels of peaceful resolutions, which may however be justifiable as at then, due to unwarranted intimidation by the colonial "monsters" against their host countries. 

Salisu in his write-up coming at a time when the Union needs all the encouragements to move to the next level, has shown that he is entirely alien to modern and civilized way of handling critical issues  through high diplomacy, lobby, dialogue and other dispute resolution methods of resolving issues without engaging in a macabre dance or fighting dirty in the market place.

Looking at the issues raised by the publisher of WikkiTimes against former National President of the NUJ, Comrade Dr Chris Isiguzo, it becomes obvious that Haruna Salisu is immature in the art of Unionism and a "learner" in doing a hatchet man's job.

Yes, no institution can claim to be perfect, either now or in the future, but the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, under the leadership of Chris Isiguzo, certainly  performed unequivocally very, very well and above average in all ramifications.

It will be of no point going into frivolities, unnecessary argument or war of words with Haruna Salisu in his rights of exercising freedom of expression and personal opinion on Chris Isiguzo’s leadership as President of NUJ, because an African proverb says, that "he who was not present during the burial of a corpse, may not know the actual position of the head of the dead at the grave side."

Nevertheless, to mention but a few of Isiguzo’s legacies will not be out of place ; 

Before Isiguzo took over as President of NUJ;

-The Union's Bank account was in red, nothing in the bank

-The National Secretariat Staff were being owed backlog of Salaries 

-Retired staff of the Union were owed years of gratuities 

-Many State Councils were at war

-There was no Centralised Register 

-Conducting Elections were big issues, with many Council members in Court

-NUJ Website was not functioning.

-Payment of Check-off dues was very cumbersome especially by private individuals

-Obtaining membership ID Card took months, sometimes years even after payments had been made.

-Journalists with government organs always at conflicts. 

-Security Agencies always at warpath with Journalists  

-etc

-Despite the COVID-19 total clamp down on movements, which crippled the economy of the whole world for almost 2 years, and the attendant hardship it imposed on institutions, the administration of Isiguzo still rose to the occasion and performed creditably; most wrongs were righted.

The achievements and evidence are there to be seen and speak for themselves.

The pertinent issue of Award as consistently mentioned by the publisher of WikkiTimes can be said to be  insignificant in a serous matter as examining the lifetime of a whole 6 years of an administration of a person; besides, even Awards are given considering a prevailing circumstance.

Is this write-up insinuating that Isiguzo’s NUJ administration was perfect NO, but did he perform?, YES! he performed CREDITABLY VERY VERY WELL.

Haven dropped the above, it is only reasonable to extend a word of advise to Haruna Salisu and his likes, that they should be wise and civil enough to thread softly with caution and embrace developmental Journalism which Comrade Dr. Chris Isiguzo, MFR, preached throughout his tenure as NUJ President, so as not to trigger a music which no one can choreograph its dance steps, because nobody has the monopoly of being cantankerously cacophonic in the media space.

Let a sleeping dog be!