Re:quacks,fraudster s, and 419ers

Dear Sir, Iread your column today (The Nation, Tuesday, July 21,2009)
Our country today is filled with funny characters. I think we (in the media) share in the rascality, in one way or the other. David Mark himself is a 419er, because he was in the senate through a controvercial election, which even the verdict of the tribunals is still debatable. But that not withstanding we should not take his comments for granted, or brush them aside, because we feel 'His Excellency', Right Honourable David Mark said them. There are quacks, fraudsters and 419ers in the media. In fact, Sir, you know better. The rot in the media is so pervasive that comment like this keep on coming.
And I mentioned it in an article I wrote sometimes last year, where I specifically mentioned your name, and other prominent journalists in the country, that you are the only people that can resque the profession. You know how it started and what led to the present state of things, especially of poor pay,the hirelings, quacks and crooks who invaded the profession and turned it to what it is now.
Agreed, what is happening in the NASS is a shame but, in a situation where what we do best in the media is to blackmail them into sharing the loot is unacceptable. Sir, it happens in the media and you know it. We should not pretend that we don't know all these. Today what we hear in the NUJ, is how the ex-president embezzled the Union finances or having the president to come from one part of the country or particular ethnic group. Not this alone, we criticise politicians on the basis of where they come from, we defend them because at one time in our lives we worked under them as press secretaries.
Does this speak well of a profession regarded as fourth estate of the realm in a democratic society? Sir, we have to stop pretending, this country is in crises. As I am talking to you, almost 80% of Nigerians are living below the poverty level, ASUU, NASU, SSANU are on strike. Nobody knows where Nigeria is heading to as a nation, our schools, hospitals, roads and every thing are in shambles. We have to 'export' our children to Ghana, Malaysia for secondary education. Do you think these children can have a sense of national culture? Do you think a child, trained overseas can be patriotic?