Journalists say late Chukwuma left a vacuum too big to fill
The late former West Africa Regional Director of Ford Foundation, Mr Innocent Chukwuma was a trusted friend of the media and will be remembered for his selfless service to mankind, the Journalists for Democratic Rights , (JODER) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The group said though he spent few years on earth, those years were glorious and fruitful and far better than an age without a name.
JODER said ‘Media institutions and human rights journalists miss a great man of ideas who committed his entire life to making his society better. In our encounters with him spanning decades, Mr Chukwuma was a selfless man with diverse interests in human rights work that included free speech and media freedom. He was a trusted friend of the media,’ JODER said. The group said Mr Chukwuma contributed in no small measure to defending the media against state repression beginning from his days at the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO) when many media institutions were shut by the military.
He was a honest man, a complete family man without temper, a remarkable teacher of justice and a man gifted in wits and brainpower.
The group said Mr Chukwuma demonstrated a rare sense of humanity in responding to several institutions and individuals seeking to make Nigeria a better society where liberty and human freedom command respect.
‘He was iconic in his passion for peace building across the country. He dedicated his time. He invested his energy. He gave his passion’ JODER one of Nigeria’s pioneer media rights group established in 1996 said in a statement signed by its official, Mr Adewale Adeoye.
The group said Mr Innocent Chukwuma began to build a distinguished human rights portfolio as a students’ union leader at the University of Nigeria, (UNN) Nsukka adding that since 1991 when he left the four walls of the academic community, he has been committed for humanitarian work many times at the risk of his life.
The group said the latest of his peace efforts was during the anti-SARS riot. ‘He was one of the key pillars that prevented a slid into ethnic conflict during the anti-SARs riots. We worked with him at that troubled moment to ensure ethnic harmony during the tensed atmosphere of the anti-SARs riots. JODER said above all, Mr Chukwuma did not make life a source of vanity to millions of people.
‘His legacy proved that life is not vanity upon vanity. Life is vanity for only those that left no striking footprints for future generations. Chukwuma’s legacies will remain eternally evergreen in our hearts and in the mind of generations after our exit from the confounding stage of life, living and the passing away of all things.
Signed
Adewale Adeoye
