‘ENDORSEMENT’: The Evil NUJ Delegates Must Reject

BY SAM ADZEGEH

It is sad that the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), a hitherto dynamic and most respected association, being the only union in Nigeria which enjoys dual status as a trade and industrial union; indeed, the only union recognized by the Nigerian Constitution, insists on dragging itself into opprobrium.

Every member of the NUJ worth his salt, remembers the lethargy that overshadowed the union after the Port Harcourt Conference in 2006.

The slide down the gradient occurred because at the Port Harcourt Triennial Delegates’ Conference, where several of the union’s leaders conspired to thwart the will of practicing journalists who are NUJ members in their choice of President. Using the most abrasive and unholy tactics ever in NUJ elections, they succeeded in imposing a most unsuitable candidate on the union. The result? The union went into comatose, all but dead to the world. The Port Harcourt Conference was a follow-through to the Badagry Conference where all known decencies were thrown to the dogs as unjustified, unsubstantiated and arbitrary allegations were heaped on opponents and others perceived not to be in line with illegality thus, were summarily tried and disqualified, and out rightly suspended, all in a bid to avoid fair competition.

After the crude imposition in Port Harcourt (2006), salvation came the way of the union in 2009 in Abuja, where discerning and honorable leaders came together with a mission that ensured the overthrow of the inept leadership, and ushered in Muhammed Garba through a popular and transparent process supervised by NEC members made up of Chairmen of State Councils in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Union.

Garba it was who, as Union President (2009 – 2015), brought to bear his charisma, humility and commendable inter-personal relationship skills, to pull the union out of the doldrums and, to a large extent, restore its dignity.

Between the Badagry and Port Harcourt Conferences, the NUJ suffered the crudest impositions ever known. While it was true that there was respite through his personal charisma and forceful character that enabled the then NUJ President, Smart Adeyemi, to record some achievements that included purchase of desktop computers for all the 36 State Councils and the FCT, as well as official vehicles for principal officers of the Union that included Vice Presidents of the six zones in addition to the famous nationwide Media Tour. However, the brazen and crude method adopted by him in the conduct of the affairs of the Union, left much to be desired.

As earlier stated, the succeeding four years between 2006 and 2009 (under Ndagene Aku) however, witnessed probably the low point in the history of the NUJ as no single achievement was recorded, nothing was gained but, certainly, all was lost.

I have gone down this memory lane to point out what the imposition, read ‘endorsement’, of unpopular candidates, especially one without charm, charisma or ideas, can negatively impact on any organisation, even a union with the strength, diversity and backing of the nation’s Constitution like the NUJ.

Unfortunately, members of the union, including many of its past and present leadership, appear to have learned nothing from the above and similar episodes. They are again currently conspiring to impose a candidate through a so called forceful and dubious ‘endorsement’ while members are watching with suspicious silence (the kola-in-cheek option) in the face of the current President whose impudent constitutional breaches, and never like it – manipulation/distortion of delegates’ list in order to impose another (preferred) candidate on the union at the scheduled Owerri NUJ Triennial Conference through a dubious ‘endorsement’ arrangement. This is being carried out after unacceptable alleged disqualifications of aspirants presumed not to be loyal to him. The reason behind this is simply to cover his ineptitude and borderline criminality in office.

This is the time for the concerned members of the NUJ and rightly so to rise in unionism to resist the satanic ploy with every legitimate ploy at their disposal. The brazen attempt by the out-going NUJ President to convert the Union to an association for only him and his cronies must not be allowed in all and every ramification.

It is gratifying that to note that some State Councils with focused Union leaders and who are conscientious, courageous and God fearing, are already up in arms against the obnoxious and evil ‘endorsement’ as a means of deciding the Union’s leadership going forward.

‘Endorsement’ is an evil agenda which, like its infamous precursor ‘the third term agenda’, is bound to fail. It is an evil which, as shown above, will only lead the great NUJ into the abyss from which it may never recover.

The Save-NUJ-Now! Movement commends the courage and resilience of those leaders and members at all levels who insist on Delegates’ rights to interact with, and interrogate their would-be-leaders’ intelligence, track records and pedigree at interpersonal levels, which was the original intent of pioneer leaders of the union. May history be kind to them.

For the proponents of ‘endorsement’, or whatever acronym they ascribe to their evil scheme, let it be known that NUJ members are now too sophisticated to be deceived by such cheap and evil propaganda. Any candidate that allows himself to be misled by any godfather, past or present, that he has been endorsed by any Council or even chapel, such a candidate had better wake up from a bad dream. There are no endorsements.

NUJ members, especially delegates going to Owerri, are too concerned about the general welfare and working environment particularly with regards to the dwindling fortunes of the union and media organisations, to indulge in any attempt at endorsing any candidate. Anyone who tries it will have him or herself to blame.

Delegates must insist on fully interacting with and thoroughly scrutinizing all candidates for the elections.

May the harsh judgement of everything good be upon the proponents of endorsement. The ‘Save-NUJ-NOW!’ movement is recording the contributions of personalities on both sides for posterity and, at the appropriate time, shall let their kith and kin, as well as the entire world know where they stood when the NUJ needed them most.

…Adzegeh, Convener, ‘Save-NUJ-NOW!’ is a veteran journalist that ha attended four NUJ Delegates’ Conferences.

To join ‘Save-NUJ-NOW! Movement’, please, chat on 07066651485. Only real names and identities welcome.