Dear former leaders, current leaders, senior colleagues and members of our NUJ family,
The sudden and painful death of our colleague and brother, Patrick Osaretin Osadebamwen, should give every one of us cause to reflect deeply.
Whatever our differences, disagreements, grievances, political alignments or personal misunderstandings may be, there comes a moment when humanity must rise above everything else. I believe this is one of those moments.
Patrick is gone.
The finality of those words should remind us just how transient life is. Yesterday, he was one of us — working, interacting, contributing, disagreeing and agreeing with colleagues as we all do. Today, we mourn him. Tomorrow is promised to none of us.
For this reason, I appeal to our former leaders, current leaders, senior journalists and colleagues across the divide: let us drop the bickering and animosity. Let us mourn Patrick.
This is not the time for recriminations, accusations, counter accusations or the reopening of old wounds. There will always be disagreements in any professional body, particularly one as vibrant and diverse as the Nigeria Union of Journalists. But there must also be moments when we recognise that some things are bigger than our differences.
Death is one of them.
Patrick deserves the dignity of our collective mourning. His family deserves to see a professional community united in grief and respect for the memory of their departed son, husband, father, brother and loved one. And our Union deserves the opportunity to demonstrate that, notwithstanding our differences, we remain capable of standing together when it matters most.
Those who have led this Union have made their contributions and left footprints that cannot be erased by today’s disagreements. Those currently entrusted with leadership equally bear the responsibility of preserving the institution for those who will come after them. Senior colleagues carry the additional burden of providing wisdom and moderation when emotions run high.
This moment therefore demands statesmanship from all sides.
Nobody needs to win an argument today. Nobody needs to have the last word. Nobody loses anything by choosing restraint.
Indeed, sometimes the greatest demonstration of strength is knowing when to stop.
Let Patrick’s death remind us of our common humanity. Let it remind us that offices are temporary, disagreements eventually fade, and the battles we consider so important today may mean very little tomorrow.
There will be another day for whatever conversations need to be had. Today, however, let us mourn.
Let us comfort Patrick’s family.
Let us honour his memory Following @highlight
And, perhaps, let his passing become the moment when we rediscover the fraternity or collegiality that ought to bind us together as journalists.
May Patrick Osaretin Osadebamwen rest in peace.
Lemmy Ughegbe , Ph.D