WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DEFEND ?

To defend is  to protect or be in support of .

Who is a defender ? A defender  is one who protects or guards against attack . Placing and putting the word" to defend" or being a defender  " in their literal meaning show and imply  that a defender is one who  is always at  the receiving end  rather than on the active side ; while   he is also in the defensive rather in the offensive. But seeing the word :"Defend" in its holistic and  original sense ,even seeing it whole as  to see the word in its rootedness and in its  interconnectedness shows that its meaning goes beyond the casual .No doubt,the word is a combination of two Latin words:DE+FENDERE" conversely  giving three  meanings, in which they all are of same cognate family namely: (1)Envisioning attack at a distance and nipping it right in the bud: (Off+strike(Fendere)

(2)To be on the watch for offence which may come in form of a stub; even as a stumbling block and which is why the word : "offence" in Greek (akandalon) is from a derivative of snare of stumbling block or (same word offence )in Hebrew as "mikshowl " being stumbling block or obstacle or enticement.

(3) To be in the offensive ,(De+fendere)Of+towards or facing assault is to be anticipatory and acting first towards guarding  and protecting self or someone from offence. Conversely, The Defender rather than being the accused or the respondent  (as in legal suit, ) is NOW in this new word order and in its original sense ,the plaintiff who is  launching the attack or initiating action .

Indeed, it is from this position and frame of mind therefore that I have always operated as a defender , launching the attack. 

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A DEFENDER.

As a News Editor, Editor, Politics and Bureau Chief ,I had ,as a matter of deliberate policy allowed and promoted Editorial Power sharing in the Newsroom while enacting a culture of balance between liberty and discipline there.Hence,I enjoyed the cooperation and goodwill of colleagues, subordinates and reporters who are indeed closest to facts in journalistic practice. Even though I  separated professional writers from good leg men,I built the potentials of each individually to the apogee of their capacities and to the advancement of the media. Till now I enjoy the goodwill of every professional that has passed through me even as most of them are now in the top hierarchy of their different media world. It is on record that my first area of operation as a reporter was a  provincial newspaper in Kwara State known as "KWARA WEEKLY" (1982-1984).As a result of our industry and good team spirit in our newsroom, the newspaper enjoyed widest circulation so much that vendors were using it  (as compulsorily  conditional sale )to sell other national dailies in the state.