As the 5th State Triennial delegate conference of the Rivers State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ slated to hold on Thursday, April 19, 2012 draw closer, contestants, battle ready have carried their campaigns to the different NUJ Chapels.
The team of Mr. Opaka Dokubo seeking for re-election as chairman, Ayo Tamuno of information chapel vice chairman, Stanley Job Stanley Secretary, Anayo Onukwugha, Federated chapel, Assistant sec. Barth Ndubuwa, News Watch chapel, financial secretary, Uche Agbam, RSTV, Treasurer and Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor, Auditor, from The Newswriter who was later dropped for coming late to the screening exercise, visited The Newswriter Chapel last Friday.
The election campaign team which was led by Mr. Olalekan Ige, the campaign Director General and the editor of Independent chapel, kicked off prior to Easter period at Tide chapel and later moved to Information, Federated, The Newswriter, Verite, National Network, Surveillance, Rhythm 93.7, Radio Port Harcourt, RIVCAS, Treasure FM, Top News, Hard Truth, Radio Rivers, among others and rounded up at the RSTV. They were received by chapel members.
In his speeches at the various chapels, Olalekan Ige, the campaign Director General said they were at the chapels to seek members support for the re-election of Opaka Dokubo as chairman of the state NUJ council and his team.
Ige recalled the achievements made by Opaka Dokubo-led executive in his first tenure in office such, as re-uniting members of the union, especially the Federated Chapel, setting up of various committees including the committee to get rid of quacks in the profession, training of journalists and presentation of laptops, courtesy of Mobil, Rivers State Ministry of Information, stressing that Opaka is partnering with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for an endowment fund for the training of journalists in the state in South Africa, Ghana and other countries. He also recalled the efforts made by Opaka Dokubo in his first tenure to reconstruct and renovate the de-roofed NUJ secretariat before the intervention of the Rivers State government under the leadership of governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
Ige further assured that all the chapels of the union will benefit from the two million endowment fund for the training of journalists in the state which was presented by Prince Emma Anyanwu, stressing that the Opaka administration would do more if the chapels support his re-election ambition.
In his speeches at the chapels, Opaka Dokubo who recalled his achievements in his first tenure, thanked the chapel members for their various contributions which have help them to succeed.
Dokubo who said he believed in encouraging journalists, assured that he would do his best to encourage all the chapels in the state by training to enhance their practices and carry them along in the scheme of things.
In his speech Mr. Ayo Tamuno noted that Opaka Dokubo’s administration has done well in his first tenure, despite the contrary opinions of critics and appealed for their support in the election day.
In their separate speeches, Mr. Kenneth Amabipi, the publisher of The Newswriter, Sandra Emmanuel who represented Monday Wehere, the publisher of Surveillance, Mrs. Josy of Verite Chapel, Ayo Odungweru, Chinazor Chieme, RIVCAS chapel, Segun Owolabi, 93.7 and others pledged their support for the success of the election.
Earlier, Jim Opiki, contesting for the position of Secretary had visited The Newswriter Chapel in his campaign effort. See page 11###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
