Ahead of the election of the Enugu State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ billed for March 7, elders and stakeholders of the Council have called on external forces not to interfere in the election.
In a press statement signed by some of the stakeholders, Comrades Ossy Ogbodo, former chairman; Comrade Rex Arum, former chairman and Comrade Jude Ossai, former vice chairman among 7 others, the stakeholders deplored the way some people who are not even within the state and some people in government are interfering in the union matters with a view to cause disaffection.
Alleging that some external forces are trying to barge into the election process had this to say:
“Comrades, we are highly concerned about the ongoing campaigns of calumny and external influence in the electioneering process ahead of the March 7, 2025, Enugu Council election.
“We are disturbed that an election that should be contested among brothers, friends, and professional colleagues is turning into a mini-war, with some aspirants resorting to dirty politics instead of focusing on issues affecting union members.
“We are deeply concerned that this action may be part of a larger effort by external forces, using government apparatus, to intimidate and coerce journalists in the state.
“This is unacceptable to the stakeholders in Enugu State NUJ, as it threatens the very foundation of our union and profession.
“The recent deployment of our Chairman, Mr. Sam Udekwe, by the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) to a non-existent office in Abuja, under the guise of covering Governor Peter Mbah’s visits to Abuja, is a case in point.
“This is akin to the proverbial “hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.” Since its inception as Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS) in the 1980s, ESBS has never had an office in Abuja, nor has it had a Bureau Chief. The term “Bureau Chief” does not apply to broadcast stations anywhere in the world.
“We view the deployment as punitive, malicious and in bad faith, orchestrated by some individuals in the corridor of power to cause confusion and achieve their obnoxious intentions.
“We have reason to believe that some individuals claiming to act on behalf of the state government are interfering in the NUJ election to truncate our democratic process.
“However, this will not happen, as every effort is being made to ensure a smooth election on Friday, March 7, 2025.
“As critical elders and stakeholders, we maintain our position that there is neither division nor faction in Enugu State NUJ.
“We crave the indulgence of meddlesome interlopers to stay clear of the NUJ Enugu State Council election as any attempt to hijack the process will be strongly resisted.
“We, therefore, urge all bonafide journalists in the state to be ready for a smooth, rancor-free election, as winners will emerge.”