It is often said that journalism is history in a hurry. Every day, every moment of his career life, the journalist breathes, dreams, and sources for stories. Anywhere an issue is called to question, the journalist is there. Wherever an event takes place, he is expected to be in attendance and report it accordingly. He is also not found wanting as a snooper, a restless nosey newshound, eager, ready and willing to tear at the heart of any matter that falls within his purview, within his professional area or beat.
It is also on record that some journalists go beyond their beats or professional and everyday reporting to write books. Take for instance, the case of Frederick Forsyth, the erstwhile British wartime reporter. After several years of being a war correspondent, Forsyth, historian, journalist, writer and chronicler went full time into writing. He lives on writing. He is known to have produced some of the most incisive, educative, rewarding and revealing books and novels on war tactics in the world. His works will forever stand out.
An expert in espionage novels that leave nothing to the imagination, Forsythe also produced two amazing books on the Nigerian Civil War. He was able to accomplish so much because he was duly embedded by the powers that be. This brings us closer to the case of Jibrin Baba Ndace of the Blueprint Newspapers, Abuja. At the inception of his career as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai did not hide his love for him the moment he was posted to cover his military exploits to dismantle terrorists and restore the nation back to safety.
What is most interesting is that Ndace went beyond his usual brief to produce three striking books (trilogy) on the tenure of Buratai. The books were presented to the public at the Shehu Musa Yaraudua Centre, Abuja, last week. It was a momentous occasion. The event rankles as one of those rare moments to be proud to be a reporter, to be an inquisitive and daring professional, keen on the minutest details.
Like James Hardley Chase who himself was not only a police officer but a reporter and who was able to churn out plenty of literary materials from many of his interloping lifestyle, Ndace’s three books are provocative, profound. They hit the nail on the head. They take a swipe at the heart of the matter. They show in very special and colourful ways how reporting must go beyond the usual parlance of meeting the deadline and minding only the everyday routine.
The three books are: Walking War Front with Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, Duty Call Under Buratai’s Command and The Lonely Grave and other poems. Each book dwells on an aspect of the intimidating profile of Buratai in the cause of the discharge of his calling. A prudent, resourceful warrior, the books do not spare his gallantry, his stubborn resolve to stampede terror out of the land, out of these shores.
One thing stands out clear in the books. It is only when you are close to someone that you can perceive the smell of his mouth. Due to his closeness to Buratai and his army command, Ndace is able to pen-down all the inner workings of this brave Infantry Army General who is never known to waste his smiles or laugh for the sake of laughing. We can equally see the hand of professional expediency in the way the author presents events in clear chronological order. A chronicler of no mean stature, Ndace is deep into the affairs and workings of the military. He is now an authority in that regard.
This goes to show that being embedded is glorious; it paves way to producing comprehensive, water-tight and indisputable dossier on a person. Closeness to a cause, to a person in all situations therefore helps to have inner access to the real facts that give vent to accuracy. The books do not contain moments of speculations or hazardous guessing or undue innuendoes. It is really in order when a reporter is allowed or groomed to remain on a beat for too long. The period allows him to master the sector, its many techniques and terminologies and knowing the main players in the sector. This is one of those advantages that worked for Ndace. A specialist in military reporting now, he can be likened to Christine Armanpour of the CNN. Armanpour is considered the foremost war reporter of this century. Even now, the world is waiting for her to produce more literature to back up her on-the-job experiences and encounters overtime.
Literature is inspiring, indoctrinating and much more when the narrative is juicy, poignant and instructive. Kudos has to go to the military for the rare privilege that gave Ndace this leeway. The opportunity is unprecedented. And like most guests pointed out at the launching of the books, more journalists should endeavor to write books. The reason for this advice is clear. The journalist is a recorder of events. He is a historian, albeit hurriedly, as well as a documentalist. He holds the world in his palms in terms of information gathering. His pen is ever poised to reveal a lot of issues, hidden, incongruous and somewhat heinous. He is at liberty to report all aspects of the social, political, economic and cultural norms and nuances that distort the society, or hold the people together.
So, he is supposed to pause occasionally to put those into books. Sam Omatseye of The Nation Newspapers, Lagos, he is one of such smart and great journalists who has written and translated a lot into a number of books while also trying to meet deadlines and much more. And it must not be forgotten that the famous Chinua Achebe, Africa’s most accomplished novelist, critic, author and academic was also a journalist. Life can indeed be a roller coaster of sorts when reporters finally condense all their experiences, exploits and knowledge on the job into books. Books remain veritable and everlasting archival materials for posterity.
And so, we give big, thunderous salutation to Gen. Buratai, to the Army and to the author Ndace for this uncommon literary feat and accomplishment.
