…Say Isiguzo’s Role in Council Meeting Undermines Its Credibility
November 10, 2024, Abuja-
Aggrieved aspirants for elective positions in the upcoming 8th Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have both praised and criticized the National Advisory Council following its recent meeting in Abuja on November 7 and 8, 2024.
The aspirants, including Kris Atsaka (Presidential Aspirant), Edward Ogude (Deputy National Presidential Aspirant), Wole Shokunbi (Deputy National Presidential Aspirant), and Mustafa Abubakar (National Auditorship Aspirant), commended the Council for responding to their call and discussing critical issues affecting the unity of the Union.
However, they voiced disappointment that several key concerns were not adequately addressed.
In a joint statement, the aspirants expressed appreciation for the Council’s efforts to convene and deliberate on the issues surrounding the upcoming Triennial Delegates Conference, scheduled for November 26-28, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State. They also acknowledged the presence of past presidents and the immediate past secretary at the meeting, hoping to find resolutions to the longstanding disputes within the Union.
However, the aspirants raised several concerns regarding the outcome of the deliberations. They criticized the Advisory Council for failing to address the contentious issue of tenure elongation, which they argue is illegal and unconstitutional.
The aspirants pointed out that the Council’s communiqué skirted the issue, merely urging the Union leadership to uphold the NUJ constitution without taking any concrete action. “The extension of tenure by the NEC led by outgoing president Chris Isiguzo is illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void,” they stated.
Furthermore, the aspirants were alarmed that they were not invited to present their grievances before the Advisory Council.
Despite the seriousness of their complaints, no effort was made to allow them a platform, either in person or virtually, to voice their concerns. “It was as if the Council deliberately ignored the aggrieved parties, including those currently in court over illegal tenure elongation and the formation of the Credentials Committee in violation of the NUJ Constitution,” the statement read.
A particularly contentious issue for the aspirants was the presiding role of Chris Isiguzo, the outgoing president, during the Council meeting.
The aspirants argued that it was a clear conflict of interest for Isiguzo to oversee a meeting addressing the very issues for which he is accused of being a central figure. “It’s like a judge presiding over his own case,” the aspirants stated, emphasizing that his continued involvement in the meeting tainted the credibility of the resolutions made by the Council.
The aspirants also expressed frustration that the Council failed to invite them to present their case, which they felt would have allowed for a more balanced and fair discussion. “It seemed that the meeting was only concerned with hearing the views of the outgoing president, which was a one-sided presentation,” they said.
Despite these criticisms, the aspirants reiterated their desire for a peaceful resolution to the issues affecting the Union, citing Isiguzo’s intervention in the Bayelsa Council crisis as an example of a political solution that led to the withdrawal of court cases.
They urged the Advisory Council to adopt a similar approach to resolve the disputes surrounding the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference.
“We believe that if Isiguzo could act swiftly to resolve the Bayelsa crisis, the same solution could be applied at the national level to allow aspirants who were unfairly disqualified to participate in the election. This would be a step toward ensuring lasting peace and equity within the Union,” the aspirants concluded.
While thanking the Council for attempting to address the issues affecting the NUJ, the aspirants warned that the unresolved concerns leave the Union in a precarious position.
“The NUJ stands on a keg of gunpowder. If these issues are not addressed, the Union may face even greater challenges ahead,” they said, offering their continued support for efforts aimed at genuine reform.
