Former chairmen of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Anambra state
council and other stakeholders have flayed the alleged interference of
the state government in the union's elections, slated for Friday ,
this week.
In a press statement signed and made available to newsmen on
Wednesday in Awka,by three past chairmen of the council , Merssrs :
Dom Ekpunobi , Victor Agusiobo and Nathaniel Anigbo on behalf other
stakeholders, the union warned that it would resist any attempt to
foist any candidate(s) on journalists in the state.
It reminded the Willie Obianio administration that no government in
the state since its creation in 1991 had interfered in the union's
activities , especially in its elections.
The press statement read "It has come to our knowledge that certain
government officials are bent on scuttling the election of the NUJ
scheduled for 13th November,2015 in the state.
"These government officials drop the name of His Excellency, Governor
Willie Obiano as having interest in the s NUJ election.
"For this reason , the government officials on Tuesday evening 10th
November, 2015 invited a top Chairmanship contender in the NUJ
election, Mr Abuchi Nwozor to step down from the race and collapse his
structure to that of a preferred government candidate, one Emmanuel
Ifesinachi of the state ministry of Information who will retire from
service in February next year.
The statement added that "The government officials also threatened
sanction on Nwozor if he fails to yield or oblige them.
"For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of all,we wish to
state as follows: That NUJ election is an internal affair of the
union.
"That the state government of Chief Willie Obiano should not be
deceived by anybody into interfering in the internal affairs of the
union, no matter the allure, temptation or circumstance.
" That Journalists as the watch dog of society should be allowed to
maintain its conventional and traditional neutrality in its affairs,
by allowing the NUJ to elect its leaders without interference and
meddlesomeness.
The stakeholders called on the national leadership of the union under
Mr Waheed Odusile to ensure that the election of 13th November in
the state would be conducted according to the rules, convention and
constitution of the union.
The statement maintained "that no matter the allure, temptation, or
circumstance, government officials should steer clear from the NUJ
election in the interest of the generality of the state".
No comments:
Post a Comment