According to Azuka, he said: ‘I never left journalism. You go through changes in life, so I have branches – from print journalism to electronic media to social media. But the last I did was the broadcast media and social media. I’m always effectively changing’.
He went further to say that the broadcast media is very intriguing, it’s very entertaining. Unlike in those days when ‘we had to chase buses because transportation was not there, salaries were not regularly paid, but we did the job you know! We went after the information. It didn’t come to us through different channels like it does now on our social media, however he caution that ‘ the information on the social media is at times conflicting, so you have to be very careful as to where you are getting it from. You have to be cautious of people that encroach on the territory of journalism simply because they could write or because they have privileged information that you may not have. So, your work is very much at stake when you rely on social media’.
Azuka who describe himself as a fearless journalist added that ‘A journalist should be fearless. They should be ready to risk their lives, put it on the line regardless of the end result’ He went further to describe the good old days, journalists were bold, they didn’t sell out but went out for the news and they took on the authorities. ‘We performed our duties as responsible journalists, and added that the ‘greatest mistake any journalist can make is to compromise. Compromise your attitude, your position or be biased and also do things because of the privileged position you have to hurt someone; to go out and be negative’
He said the best interview that he conducted was actually with ‘ Chief Obafemi Awolowo at Oba Oyekan’s palace at an event where the old man slapped me on the head and said, “You never give up! Do you?” And I said no! And that of Lagos lawyer Tunji Braithwaite. ‘We chased this man for weeks and finally we were able to knock on his door and he said “You are very resilient, I wish I had a son like you”. While the best story he ever wrote was about Abami Eda, Fela kuti with the headline “Don’t forget I’m a prisoner “on Punch stable.
‘ No, no! I don’t have any regret because as I’m looking back now, I have gained a lot. So, I don’t have any regret. If I had regrets, I would have returned. But I missed some of the happenstances when I left, because I knew I could have been a part of it. But when I left, I didn't leave completely. I make sure, occasionally, I was relevant. I remained in contact with the profession, so I don’t regret it. Never regret anything you do in life,’ he added.
This ‘big boy’ in journalism said that he is staging a comeback into journalism and ‘I go for the highest bidder. I’m ready to do media politics and branding, so I’m available for the highest bidders and I can guarantee them the best.’ On a last note, he said: ‘A good journalist must be able to be articulate; he must be well informed about whatever subject he is pursing or writing on. He must be dedicated to the job and he must be informed.'
culled:YES INTERNATIONAL
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