'A day at Uniport': Ugochukwu missed the point (1)By Williams Wodi wodikaz @yahoo.comI want to, first of all, express immense gratitude to you for judging me a fitting subject for your column, Scruples, published in the Daily Independent edition of April 1, 2009. Being an All Fools Day, I initially came away with the idea that your fine article was a bad-tempered joke in the spirit of the day. At least, that was how I took it until it dawned on me that you meant real business indeed.Let me notify you that I am extremely circumspect about rejoinders as a means of seeking redress in the popular press. I am very hesitant to trade, either on retail or wholesale basis, in rejoinders as choice commodity because their second rate value in stating the other side of the story has never impressed me.After reading through your column, however, I thought I owed you an undiluted apology and yes, some explanations too. Let me confirm to your numerous readers that you did indeed edit the defunct UNIPORT MIRROR; this is contrary to my suggestion that you did not edit that once famous student newspaper in the University of Port Harcourt. After the event in which this unnecessary dust was raised, and before you rightly complained rather loudly and aggressively in your column, I had cross-checked your claim and found it to be 100 per cent accurate. On that score, you deserve an unreserved public apology for my post-haste conclusion that obviously turned the fact on its head. Again, I apologize to you for the faux pas, my brother.Even with that done, the question must be asked: how did I get it all wrong to the extent of antagonizing you to draw your sword against me? I shall not trace the history of the Mirror newspaper which you did admirably well in your column. Let me inform your readers that even before I took over editorship of the paper in 1987 (my final year), the Mirror had unfortunately come under grave financial pressure as a result of dwindling financial allocations from the Student Affairs Department that funded and supervised it.In the 1987 edition, I had contracted an artist who sketched a cartoon that reflected the anticipated demise of the paper on account of poor funding. I was extremely worried at the time of being referred to as the last editor of Mirror newspaper. When I enrolled to pursue a graduate programme in 1990, the first thing I did was to ascertain the fate of my beloved Mirror newspaper that brought me so much visibility as an undergraduate. It became clear to me then that the reduction of critically needed statutory allocations from the Federal Government had inevitably moderated the interest of the University authorities in Mirror newspaper and such other "sundry" expenditures. There was little else that I could have done under the circumstance, believe me, Sir.Again, when I was engaged as a staff of the University in 1997, I quickly cast about for ways to resurrect the doomed paper. A group of students, who clearly exhibited creative instinct and visible enthusiasm, offered to spear-head the resurrection of the paper. Having identified me as a former editor, the new "editorial board" saw me as a rallying point. We held several meetings in my office, but unfortunately, the most enthusiastic amongst them subsequently graduated and abandoned the project to their apparently less- committed colleagues. Funding, of course, remained a problem that had no immediate remedy. The Student Affairs Department had totally lost interest in funding the title, complaining of poor allocation from the University.I have gone to this length to try to convince you that I had absolutely no hand in the demise of Mirror newspaper as you appeared to insinuate when you wrote "... as a former Editor of Mirror, he (meaning me) could not have afforded to be indifferent, but should have risen to put in a word for the newspaper..." At no point was UNIPORT NEWS which I currently edit conceived to kill the Mirror that was no longer in existence as at the time I joined the services of the University.Having not remembered meeting you before our latest ugly encounter, it probably was out of place for you to claim that my comment after you spoke at INC Aniebo's 70th birthday, was "a deliberate mischief" to slight your person, or "a carefully executed drama by a fawning courtier". Knowing Aniebo as a serious-minded, disciplined and taciturn personality, the organizers rightly excluded comedians from the event. It would have been foolhardy of me to assume the role of a "fawning courtier" at the solemn event as you observed. Dr Dipo Fashina's commendable portrait of the inscrutable novelist, in my view, reflected the solemnity of the occasion. It was simply my unnecessary comment that made you "sick" and I am relieved you didn't need a doctor. I totally agree with you that being the last editor of a defunct student publication is inconsequential to you as an established writer with wider readership; and you may graciously concede the same to me too!I was probably a marked man the day I foolishly gave you a copy of UNIPORT News, rather than your beloved Mirror during that visit to my office. On that occasion, you left my office "thoroughly disgusted". Translation: your contempt for me did not just start with my unfortunate query of your unquestionable editorship of Mirror. It is then questionable that "somebody" sitting by you at the event told you "who the fellow was". This fellow was already slated for the cleaners long before Aniebo's event. It is safe to assume that since you already had a pre-determined mindset about me, I quite inadvertently placed my neck on the chopping block to your delight. And you carved me up like a carcass fit for the hounds (excuse me Shakespeare). I still believe that you probably over-advertised your grievance- part of which was undoubtedly genuine.
Comments