Yushau Shayibu and the Sanctimonious Georgia-based Writer
Ernest Hemingway, an American Novel Prize laureate, said “As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.” Thus, when writers skewed too much on judging others and on writing tendentiously, they become liable to lose focus and later slip into the rowdy sidewalk of sadism, envy, and hatred. At that point, they will start being offensive to almost anybody that society passes off as successful. More than anything, this precursor justifies the recent attack on PRNigeria and its founder, Malam Yushau Shayibu, by a conceited Georgia-based writer who behaves as though he knows everything better than everyone.
It all began with the report of Dr. Pantami’s promotion to the professorial rank by the Federal University of Technology Owerri, which was released by Yushau Shayibu’s PRNigeria. The report prompted many Nigerians to kick in disagreement, especially those in academia. That is understandable, but attacking a PR firm for just doing what it’s hired to do cannot be justified. It’s a crying shame that the acclaimed Facebook writer from Georgia chose to ridicule himself in public space by hiding in the shadows of the Pantami saga and attempting to drag Malam Yushau’s uncontestable reputation through the mud.
Read Also:
Suffice to say, Malam Yushau stands out as one of the most successful journalists and image merchants in Nigeria today. His rock-solid reputation cannot be damaged this easily, because it wasn’t built on a foundation of pretense, lies or egocentrism. Malam Yushau’s integrity is like a niche carved from the stem of a mahogany tree, which is evident in his professional and private interactions, where he bags numerous national and international accolades for both the PRNigeria and himself.
As a prominent journalist who wins the trust of authorities and the general public, Yushau’s satisfaction, unlike the envious Georgia writer, is beyond getting a handful of Facebook comments. He is like a breathing school to many. When he writes, people get informed, counseled, cautioned, and sometimes educated. He is not egocentric and never writes to belittle or tarnish the image of anybody. As a PR person, Yushau never loses focus on his calling, even if he is being attacked by a nutcase like the know-it-all Georgia-based writer.
William Hazlitt, a British essayist who is a part of the 19th century literary canon, opined that “The only impeccable writers are those who never wrote”. This sealed the debate about error-free writing right before it begins. Therefore, the Georgia-based Facebooker should concentrate on preparing lesson notes for the white kids under his tutelage and free himself from the green-eyed monster.
Adamu Bello Mai-Bodi writes from Kaji Azare, Bauchi State, and can be reached at [email protected].
