The triennial delegates conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, comes up between 26 and 28 March 2009 in Abuja to elect its new leadership. As a result, campaigns are in top gear at state councils to win elections into the various executive positions.
The only trouble is that journalists have begun to practise what they condemn among politicians. Or how does one explain when a candidate is sworn in without going through election? At the national level, the incumbent President, Ndagene Akwu, who was helped into the position by former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, is desperate to return, having tasted the addictive honey of power. Dramatically, the then outgoing president, now Senator Smart Adeyemi who smoothened Ndagene’s way to power, is at war with his political son.
Not a few believe that Ndagene’s drab leadership has attracted an army of contestants, eyeing his position. They include Mohammed Garba, Ndagene’s deputy; Funke Fadugba and Wahab Oba among others. To this end, Ndagene goes around the state councils installing stooges who are falling over one another to please him. Enugu State is a typical example. On 10 February 2009, two-third majority of chapel members in the coal city impeached their former chairman, Mr. Ossy Rockyfeller Ogboso and dissolved the State Working Committee, SWC, backed by Article 5.F. [8] of NUJ Constitution that empowers them to if the chairman fails to call monthly congress.
Towards the end of the meeting, Ogboso called thugs and officers and men of New Haven police division in the metropolis, who assaulted journalists with the tacit support of Ndagene Akwu. For three years, Ogboso did not call any monthly congress to brief journalists on his stewardship.
The Enugu journalists also alleged that Ogboso was employed by the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, in 1991 with West African School Certificate as news assistant and he is yet to upgrade himself academically. Instead, Ogboso allegedly backdated his employment to 1986 to mean that he had practised for five years before 1992 in a bid to be covered by a clause of the constitution. Ogboso only added workshop certificates of participation. The constitution stipulates that only HND or B.Sc in Journalism or Mass Communication or PGD in Journalism qualifies one for registration as a professional.
Ndagene called a peace meeting in Port Harcourt to rescind the removal of Ogboso. But it ended in a deadlock. At this point, Ndagene vowed to suppress the state council. Thus, he sent Gbenga Bamidele Ben, National Deputy Secretary, to inaugurate Ogboso for his second term on Friday 20 February without any election.
During the kangaroo inauguration, Chief Superintendent A.W. Akpan, DPO of New Haven police station, with the backing of Bamidele, barred majority of journalists, at gunpoint, from entering the NUJ Press Centre.
But Enugu journalists have refused to budge, saying that Ndagene and Ogboso have murdered sleep. They set up a three-man Election Credentials Committee, ECC, to conduct an all-embracing election without further delay. Mr. Mike Ubani, Assistant Editor with Tell Magazine chairs it. Patricia Ugwu of State Information Chapel and Charles Idu of Federal Information are secretary and member respectively.
—Reported by Jude Orji.
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