One of the most difficult pages to edit as an editor is the letters’ page. I don’t know what it is like now; but in those days, being tasked with letters’ page was considered the most severe punishment for any desk head or sub-editor.
If you must edit this page, then get ready to laugh and cry at the same time. From stupid, disjointed grammar and sentence construction to queer ideas or opinions expressed by writers, editing the ‘Letters to the Editor’ has never been a welcome idea.
On exceptional days, you may have some beautiful letters with fantastic views expressed in impeccable English. The next task would be how to reduce 400 words to two paragraphs, with each paragraph containing two sentences of not more than 10 words each.
However, it could also be fun at the end of the day. When you can successfully edit the letters’ page, then you’ve just wormed yourself into the editor’s heart. The bad news is that the only reward for editing the letters’ page is to be permanently assigned the page.
Funny enough, letters’ page must be produced every day. It is always the first page to “go to bed” Curiously, it is one of the most widely read pages in any newspaper or magazine. One way of knowing this is when one letter keeps generating comments from other readers.
From my early days when daddy’s Daily Times and the Nigerian Chronicle were next to the Bible, I have always loved the letters’ page. It is a window to the world. People write about bad roads, bad traditional rulers, corrupt council chairmen, noisy drunkards, wife beaters, or the fat wife who sits on the husband whenever they quarrel.
Even today, anytime I pick a newspaper or magazine, my attention is first drawn to the letters’ pages. With the arrival of online publications, I noticed that at the end of every story, provisions are made for readers’ reactions to the story. This definitely is not the same as the good old letters’ page. But somehow, it fills the gap.
Recently, I read a story by the Cable, one of the few reliable Nigerian on-line news media owned by a senior colleague, an undisguised supporter of Muhammadu Buhari. The story focused on what the authors called ‘The Many Firsts of President Jonathan’.
It traced Jonathan’s emergence: from being a deputy governor to becoming a governor without contesting any election; from vice president to becoming the first acting president of Nigeria. He was cited as Nigeria’s first PhD holder to become president; first southern minority president; first executive president without elections; first vice president to become president; first presidential candidate to concede defeat immediately; among others.
However, of interest to me were the reactions of the readers to the story. They came in volumes and in various shapes and colourations. Tirimisiyu said: “Jonathan is a true statesman.” Another reader, Musuru, noted: “Love him or hate him, there will only be one like him in Nigeria… I wish him happiness and peace wherever he may be…” Elizy added: “What an intelligent man but bad governance.”
McDaddy noted: “My political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian… He said it, he meant it, he showed it… Jonathan surely had his faults as a president, but I tell you, he has successfully proved himself to be a better and patriotic citizen than these desperados. He is what they can never be.”
Then came Mackey: “I agree totally with Maitama Sule: Jonathan is not a politician but a statesman. He has saved us a lot of crisis.” He was supported by Budu who said: “President Jonathan is a good man. He just happens to surround himself with rogues and bad advisers who really tarnished his administration. He has my utmost respect…”
A certain reader called Law said: “I doubt if he will ever be forgotten. He re-defined Nigeria. I think God wants him to keep the record clean. I will forever adore GEJ, Mr. President.” Biggy said: “He is our hero. Nigeria is proud of you. We all win.”
Another reader, Nda, noted: “A fine humble gentleman who was stigmatised by the cabals right from inception. He has demonstrated that Nigeria is first in his heart…” Deangel pulled the heart-strings with: “I count him braver; he overcame his heart desires, and that is the hardest victory – victory over ourselves. Congratulating the president-elect was an arrow that pierced the hearts of many.”
Strategi, another commentator, said Jonathan is a “great man; a man of courage who stood up to the so-called godfathers and said I will rather lose than lick your feet. I love you GEJ. God bless you.”
Goody said: “GEJ is a hero and God Almighty will continue to bless him. He sincerely worked to expand the democratic space in Nigeria through free, fair and credible elections, tolerant of opposition…” Added Innocent: “With this act, I have dropped any grudge I hold against President Jonathan. He has become my hero.”
Said Akin: “Congratulations President Jonathan; he is the real winner. History will be kind to him.” Tatafo ordered: “Step aside, Olusegun Obasanjo; Nigeria has a new international statesman. His name is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He is not vindictive, not small-minded, and not as petty…”
You now understand why I love reading ‘Letters to the Editor’? You may wish to join me.
