Soldiers and police personnel at the entrance to the NUJ secretariat, Calabar
From: Diana Okon-Effiong,Calabar
Stakeholders in journalism and the Mass Media have decried the deployment of armed police and army personnel to the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Calabar.
The armed security operatives were sighted in large numbers as they cordoned off the Third Avenue, State Housing Estate, and the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar.
A rescheduled election of the Cross River Council ofNUJ was billed to hold on Monday.
A statement endorsed by 10 of the stakeholders led by Mr Renny Etta, stated that the national secretariat of the NUJ refused to comply with the court judgement nullifying the Ndoma Akpet-led state executive.
They also stated that the NUJ constitution was brazenly breached by those who conducted the purported election.
They also appealed to the State and Federal authorities should investigate the matter and bring culprits to book.
“In view of the refusal of the National Secretary of the NUJ to comply with the judgment that nullified the Ndoma Akpet-led State Exco on Feb. 24, 2016, and the brazen breach of the NUJ constitution, we the stakeholders of the union hereby condemn the purported election of Monday, April 4th 2016.
“We also strongly condemn the use of the Army, Air Force, Navy, DSS and Police in cordoning off the NUJ Secretariat for the purpose of conducting the purported election.
“We draw the attention of the state and Federal Government to the use of security operatives in attacking journalists and shooting indiscriminately at the NUJ press centre.
“We therefore call on the authorities to investigate the unwholesome meddlesomeness and brazen display of bravado and seek that the culprits be brought to book.
Similarly, the College of Veteran Journalists in Cross River, also condemned the incident.
A statement endorsed by its Chairman, Chief Victor Effiom on Monday also expressed members’ concern over what they termed constitutional impasse at the State Council of the NUJ.
“The College of Veteran Journalists in Cross River State has watched with concern the current constitutional impasse in the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists which stalemated the April 2, 2016 elections on Saturday.
“We are worried that if the National President does not intervene immediately to ameliorate the conflict, a situation may be created where some members may be forced to resort to taking the laws into their hands.
“This would invariably lead the Union to disrepute as the National Industrial Court, Calabar Division, would be forced to arrest the National Secretary on contempt charges.
“As veterans, we have intervened in the crisis with the aim of getting the Complainant in the case to sit with other interested parties in the matter without success.
“While the complainant and some of the contending teams are ready to give peace a chance, it appears that the representative of the National Secretary and the party which lost the case are determined to dig further into the trenches,” it stated.
Meanwhile the Cross River Council of the NUJ on Monday in Calabar elected officers to various positions to run its affairs for the next three years.
Mr James Uwem, Assistant National Secretary of NUJ, who was the returning officer for the election, declared Mr Victor Udu as winner and thereby returned him as Chairman.
According to the returning officer, Udu scored 86 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mrs Florence Oluohu who scored four votes, while Mr Lawrence Mpama scored no vote.
The election earlier slated for April 2, ended up in confusion.The Industrial Court sitting in Calabar nullified the mandate of Mr Ndoma Akpet whose tenure was due to end on March 6, 2016.
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