WE WANT A UNITED NUJ – UDUAGHAN
Tejiri Ebikeme
The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called on the Delta State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), under the leadership of Comrade Norbet Chiazor, to sanitize its members in order to have a united union, and be recognized as practicing professional journalists in the state.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle); the State information Commissioner, Chike Ogeah, 1st left, (ESQ); Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay (right); the Chief Press secretary to the Governor, Mr Sunny Ogefere (2nd left) and Mr Sunny Areh (2nd right), S.S.A. research brainstorming on how to have a united NUJ in Government Asaba on Friday July 11, 2014 after the Governor briefed journalists in the state.
The Governor made the call during a press briefing held at the Press Centre in Government House Asaba, on Friday.
He said; “We want a united NUJ and it is my call on the state council leadership and members to sanitize the union.”
The Governor added; “We want to deal with professionals next time. There shall be a screening and accreditation so that we can have a way forward.”
According to him, “a seed of discord has been sown few years ago and it is growing. But we are going to resolve it.”
The Governor called for a meeting to be held soonest with him in order to resolve the issues of factions and other lingering problems.
“I like dealing with the problems from the root. It is the name you call your cloth that others will help you to call it. NUJ is a powerful union, but you people make others to look down on it,” he said.
He also stated that members of the union in the state should be patient with the leadership, stressing that if the leader is not working they should be patient, as his time will one day run out.
Recalling role he played in the past with the Secretary to the State Governor (SSG), Comrade Ovouzourie Macaulay and Comrade Edward Ogude, among others on how to establish a virile union, by settling the crisis that engulfed the union before the administration of the current Chairman, he expressed surprise that the imbroglio was still lingering.
