NUJ Zonal VC Tasks State Councils On Peace, Mutual Respect, Others

… As Bayelsa Council Gets New Exco

Vice Chairman, South-South zone F of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Comrade Opakaba Dokubo has warned against rancour and acrimony in State councils of the union before, during and after elections of their executives.

Dokubo, who was former Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Union gave the charge at the weekend in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital while discharging his duties as returning officer of the triennial delegate congress of the state’s council.

He noted that prior to the delegate congress, as an officer who superintendents the entire six states of the zone, he has never been impressed with the array of information coming to him from the Bayelsa state council.

He said: “The recent court injunction obtained by a faction of the state council over alleged disqualification of some members from contesting elections in the triennial delegate congress was new to the zone since my assumption of office as zonal Vice chairman.

“As members of the Council, it’s expected that you work together to raise the standard of the union and not rancour and unnecessary disagreements”.

The NUJ zonal leader who doubles as the Political Editor of THE TIDE tasked Journalists to hold their leaders accountable, noting that growth and development of the union should not be left for executive council members alone.

Rendering his account of stewardship, outgoing chairman of the state council, Comrade Samuel Numonengi commended members of his executive council and union members for their support and understanding during his tenure.

Numonengi stated that under his leadership, the council made some modest achievements, especially the prevailing peace prior to the triennial delegate congress’s judicial injunction which initially barred the conduct of the elections as at when it was originally scheduled hold.

Meanwhile, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha of the Radio Bayelsa Chapel has been elected as new Chairman of the state Council.

Yemoleigha polled a total of 213 votes to defeat outgoing State Council Secretary, Comrade Ipigansi Clement Ogio of the Information Chapel who polled 206 votes.

Other elected executive members were, Comrades Inebaraton Preye, Vice Chairman, Stanley Imgbi, Secretary, Tekinyo Theophilus, Treasurer and Theophilus Agidee, Financial Secretary.

Also elected were, Comrades Grace Iwolo, Auditor and Aqua Douye Akpuruku, Assistant Secretary.