No way for gangsterism leadership in Ogun Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists-President declares

The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Iziguzo has declared that the leadership of the union will not allow gangsterism takeover of the affairs of the Ogun State Council, adding that the union has role to place the profession in right path.

Penpushing reports that, Isuguzo made this clear when he was hosted alongside his entourage by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson in her palatial residence located at Quarry road in Abeokuta, which was part of his(President) three day official visit to Ogun State.

‘This is a zone that is considered by everybody as being very very unsafe but we have to go there because we have our colleagues. That’s why when I read that some ragamuffins  had threatened to stop us from coming here, I told them if I could visit Maiduguri, Damaturu, Yola, Jalingo, Bauchi and Gombe what will stop me from coming to Abeokuta’, he noted.

‘If they were reasonable enough this would have serve as a platform for reconciliation. If they were reasonable enough they would have taken advantage of this visit to sort out grey areas, but because they are who they are, a bundle of bandits, that’s why they have continues to perpetrate and perpetuate crisis’.

‘Well we thank God; our arrival today is in continuation of the nationwide tour. As I speak we have already visited over 15 States, including all the six States in the Northeast: Bornu, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba’.

‘And I can assure you, our mother general (Iyalode) for whatever action, for whatever decision they have taken they are inconsequential and at the appropriate time they would be visited with the consequences of their actions’ Isiguzo declared.

‘I want to assure our colleagues in Ogun State that we are committed to serving the union with diligence, with commitment, with determination. We cannot be sway by the ranting of an ant or ants, we are not carried away by that. social media, it has obviously  come to stay and people are free to continue to deride themselves there,  a handful of people are determined desperately  to destroy the very fabric of the union but what they don’t know is the union makes us strong. If you destroy it today tomorrow we will have need for the union and the union would not be there for you.

Penpushing further reports that, his visit to Ogun State is homecoming, having won his election on 5th of October 2018 as the union President  in the State, adding that, ‘and when we set out for the Journey, we said we were going to come to this place’.

I want to once again as a leader call on all those combatants to sheath  their sword and embrace peace while it is yet day, because when it gets to darkness it may be difficult to begin to have discussion with them. I am appealing to every one of them, there is still time for us to retrace our steps and our obvious humility should not be misconstrued to mean weakness’.

‘For the people that knows me they know I am not weak. As much as I laugh freely I also takes decisions when they are necessary. So I want to sincerely appreciate you (Madam General) for receiving us. I have heard so much about you. Since 1982 you’ve remained a leader that cares for your people, you’ve always related with NUJ . I’m Ogun State and I think time has come our Mother General for you to extend your good hand of fellowship beyond the shores  of Ogun State’,Isiguzo stated.

‘Immediately we assumed office, we felt the need for us to reach out because I recall we campaigned on the platform of rescue mission. You cannot rescue what is formidable, you cannot rescue what is strong, you cannot rescue what is solid, working. You rescue what is at the detriment level, you get it out. And there is no way we will archive that without reaching out to critical stakeholders’.

‘Well for me, mother general we are indeed very pleased to be here today. Like the Caretaker Chairman said earlier, this is like homecoming for me. On the 5th of October 2018, I was elected as the President of the Union in Abeokuta. And when we set out for the Journey, we said we were going to come to this place’.

‘We started this journey from the Villa, we met with Mr President. When we were trying to reach out to him so many people were like you were elected but they are challenging the election and all that, going there is more like recognizing him and I told them that somebody has been elected and sworn-in and we owe it a duty to be fair to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The message we took to him was clear and is still clear because the issue that we addressed during our meeting with him still stare us in the face today’.

‘We didn’t go to him to ask for favour. In the speech I presented to Mr President I did not make any demand, I rather made it clear to  him that Nigeria as a democracy must have respect and regard to unique ingredients of Democratic governance.

‘Today we actually know about our colleagues that have been incarcerated for no offence, and we made it clear to him when we left we have to go round reaching out to other stakeholders, the military of army staff, the inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS, Director of State Service and the rest of them because you cannot substantially do this job and remain safe without having some level of understanding with this stakeholders’.

‘That’s why in the history of elections in the country, the last general election was the only election held in Nigeria where no journalist was held hostage, not one.  We have opened the situation room at the Secretariat of NUJ and monitor the election across Nigeria. We were in touch with the police, the SSS, and everybody, to ensure that our people were safe before, during and after the election’.

‘We have the zonal leadership; the national trustee is also here. It would be a light to them if you extend your hand of fellowship to them and if it becomes necessary the national leaders also awaits your goodwill. So we are indeed grateful. For us to arrive here today and the very first place we are coming is your house is also very very significant and we appreciate you’.

‘One thing I will assure you  is as the constitution of Nigeria 1999 as variously  amended has given us the mandate to hold government accountable, has saddled us with the responsibility of speaking for the voiceless Nigerians’.

‘We want to assure you that we will continue to do same without instance, we are committed. And we want to also assure you and our members’ that let them not loose hopes. But I want to tell them let’s together collectively keep the hope alive. Nigeria will be better, no matter the antics of political desperados. I will remain committed to holding them accountable to speaking for Nigerians and to ensure that nothing happens to this democracy’.

‘it will not be derailed because  our people paid the price and we cannot stand or sit hardly watch them destroy it. We are determined to protect Nigeria unity and we are committed to protecting democratic governance. Once again we are grateful; on behalf of my team we are profoundly grateful. Thank you very much’.