· As Nwadike Raises alarm over alleged activities of hoodlums
The new Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Nigeria of Journalists, Imo State Council, Comrade Precious Nwadike was at the NUJ secretariat on Monday, March 15,2021 to inspect the clearing of the over grown bush within and around the secretariat.
Comrade Precious Nwadike inspecting Bush clearing of NUJ secretariat
Speaking to newsmen at the secretariat, Comrade Nwadike expressed concern at the presence of unidentified, strange and stern looking young men loitering around the place, that morning, some of who came out from the guest house and other places.
Comrade Nwadike disclosed that a security source had called to inform him that the secretariat has become a den for criminals who often come for “short time” but end up spending the night.
He frowned at such unacceptable act of negligence, stressing that the union under committee’s watch will not keep quiet and allow it’s secretariat that was acquired under the military administration, when Chief Ben Osugwu was Chairman of Imo NUJ, to be turned into a hide out for delinquents, criminals and other undesirable elements.
When asked for comments about measures to address the alleged activities of hoodlums within and around the faciility, Comrade Nwadike said, “the issue will be discussed and effective solutions that will address the challenge holistically will be proffered at the congress. All I know is that urgent steps will be taken to rid the secretariat of criminal elements and their cohorts to avoid denting the image of the union.”
Nwadike, Publisher of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper assured that, having taken note of all this, he will in no distant time set up a committee with the primary assignment of ensuring that Imo journalists are not only resettled at the secretariat but also take advantage of the facilities that will be upgraded and made functional to cater for their professional needs unlike now that most of them seek such services outside.
He also used the opportunity to commend Imo journalists for exhibiting maturity, restraint and a high sense of decorum when the agents of government made desperate attempts to sell the secretariat. “Elsewhere such provocative action would have led to chaos, and blood shed. But it did not happen because we acted and behaved like gentle men that we are”.
It will be recalled that, prior to the emergence of the Steve Uzoechi caretaker committee of Imo NUJ, the past leadership had allegedly struck deals with the agents of past government and concluded plans to sell the union’s multi million naira secretariat and without the consent of members and the founding fathers of the union who were instrumental to the acquisition of the facility during the military administration.
It was also gathered that the deal and plans to sell the secretariat was why the Innocent Igwe leadership of the NUJ in collaboration with some national officers of the NUJ attempted to impose Mr Chris Akaraonye, a retiree and photographer on Imo journalists despite stiff and persistent opposition by disappointed Imo journalists.
It should also be noted that the matter instituted by Elder Lambert Ojukwu, Publisher of Nigeria Newspoint Newspaper, Amby Uneze of This Day News Newspaper who contested the election at the well attended Imo NUJ Congress held in 2018 praying the industrial Court sitting in Owerri to compel the electoral committee to conclude the election they abandoned mid-way came up recently.
When the matter at the Owerri Industral Court was called up and counsel for the plaintiff called up to cross examine the defendant, he declined and pleaded ill health, hence the matter was adjourned.
