By Johnson Ebigide
The chances of the incumbent President of the Nigeria Union Journalist (NUJ), Comrade Christopher Isiguzo, clinching the exalted position for a second term at the upcoming 7th Triennial Congress of the union, fixed for October 6, 2021 at Umuahia in Abia State, gets a boost with the collective endorsement by journalists in Delta State of his candidacy for the position.
Comrade Isiguzo who had led his campaign team, The Greater Height, to the temporary Press Centre of the union in Asaba, the state capital, was received warmly by members of the state council of the union, led by the Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, very many members of the union and well wishers in the state.
Briefing the journalists, Comrade Isiguzo said that he was in Asaba as a second home coming, haven been there when he was campaigning to be elected as the President of the NUJ in 2021, adding that his present visit was not only to seek the support of members in the state for the actualisation of his desire to be elected for a second term, but to table the scorecard of his administration before the members for proper evaluation towards considering him for a reelection as the president of the union in the country.
He said that his administration had pulled off the union from the precipice of collapse and added values to it for the benefit of members in the country.
The President maintained that the welfare and security of members was no longer taken for granted, saying that not only had his administration fought for prompt payment of salaries of practising journalists in media outfits, but had created the much needed interface between the union and the several security operatives in the country to enhance in the smooth discharge of their professional duties as the watchdogs of the society.
Comrade Isiguzo added that his administration had also placed high premium on the capacity development of the members through quality training and retraining in well organised workshop in and outside the country, adding that very many other packages that had standardised the practice of Journalism had been introduced in the union.
He maintained that respectability was gradually returning to the union and to journalists as professionals, adding that if elected for a second term, he would not only consolidate on his modest achievements, but would work closely with concerned and critical stakeholders in entrenching accountability, responsive and purposeful leadership of the union in the country.
Responding, Comrade Ikeogwu thanked the visiting team and congratulated the Isiguzo Administration for determinedly cleansing the Augean Stable of the union in less down three years of his tenure, adding that the successful conduct of the union election in the state was attributable to the unbiased position of the national body of the union.
He said that Comrade Isiguzo deserved a second term, not only because of his managerial and leadership astuteness, but his wonderful human relations, Godfearing and the readiness to learn at all times.
He therefore called on members of the union in the state and beyond to take advantage of the quintessential personality of Comrade Isiguzo by voting massively for him during the upcoming election.
Thereafter, Comrade Abel Johngold of the Federal Information Chapel moved the motion for the endorsement of the candidacy of Isiguzo, which was supported by Comrade Kenneth Obieh of the State Information Chapel and thunderously received by those in attendance.