Environment they say influence the way a person behaves, relates and conducts it’s daily activities.
The above statement best describes the sphere that permiates the environment that houses the cradle of journalism in Nigeria, the Iwe Iroyin in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.
When people gather and engage in different activities, especially Journalism, one thing is certain and that is the fact that there is bound to be disagreement and shared ideology will also suffice.
However, when shared or opposite ideology condescends to creating a viral bad energy, then it creates an environment that is toxic which inevitably is counter-productive to those who shared or had opposite ideas. Therefore, both parties looses!
An environment or organisation will always enjoy the dividend of good tidings when the players don’t allow political or ideological differences to separate the real
reason(s) that brought them together in the first place.
Sharing different opinions and ideas is a great asset that should stair up good development if channeled appropriately but the reverse would be the case if the opposite is allowed.
The cloud that house the Iwe Iroyin, the home of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Chapter in recent times has been some-sort of toxic and counter developmental to all that enters it, therefore it calls for urgent review so that the players can reap the real benefits of what brought them together in the first place.
Journalistic politics should be seen as a friendly and jolly game which should further bound the players together and not to disintegrate them.
A situation where colleagues who shared the same platform of work descends to keeping each other at arms length because they share different opinion or ideas about an issue can be akin to a ‘joke taken too far’
Or how can you describe a situation where someone is denied his right just because he is found to be a friend or inclined to a perceived ‘friend-enemy’? Such acts can only breed more bad energies which of-course cannot lead to any development.
It is high time every player knows that for any meaningful development to happen in an environment or profession, bad energy such that have beclouded the Iwe Iroyin should be dealt with as soon as possible.
For all proponents of good governance and development, there is no right or wrong as everyone should be on the same table of negotiations for one just course which is the uplifting and development of the cradle of journalism in the country.
This piece was written by Olajumoke Taiwo, a budding journalist who is assessing the developments in the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Chapter for Educational purposes.
