By Gideon Njoku
The Kaduna State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, has barred its members from attending the National NUJ’s Delegates’ Conference slated for Umuahia, Abia State, South-east, Nigeria.
It said its Council would avoid any trip to the South-east due to the worsening insecurity situation in the Zone.
The NUJ Delegates’ Conference, even though enmeshed in controversy over a court action brought against the body by the Ogun State Council, offers the Union the chance to elect new Executive members to run its affairs.
But at an Emergency meeting in Kaduna on October 5, the Council said in a Communique it issued, signed by Comrade Femi Adi, that it was not prepared to expose its members to danger in the South-east due to the activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
It said the Congress before taking the decision “critically reviewed the security situation in the country and particularly, the continuous deteriorating security situation in the South-east perpetrated by Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB).”
It, therefore, concluded that: “The Kaduna State Council unanimously resolved by an overwhelming vote that it will not be attending the Abia Delegate Conference because of the serious risk members lives and properties would be exposed to.”
The Source magazine gathered that other Chapters in the country may likely toe the same line for fear of the lives of their members.
Following is an excerpt from the Communique issued by the Kaduna NUJ Council.
“The Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council, held an emergency Congress on the 5th October, 2021.
“The Council deliberated extensively on the NUJ Delegates’ Conference scheduled to hold at Umuahia, Abia State.
“The Congress critically reviewed the security situation in the country and particularly, the continuous deteriorating security situation in the South East perpetrated by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
“The Congress also looked into consideration the substantive Court Order restraining the National Executive Council (NEC) from proceeding with the elections process .
“After a robust deliberations, the Kaduna State Council unanimously resolved by an overwhelming vote that it will not be attending the Abia Delegate Conference because of the serious risk members lives and properties would be exposed to.
“However, Congress did not prevent any member from attending the aforementioned Conference in Abia on their personal capacity. Congress however , cautioned such members who might wish to attend not to claim to be representing the Kaduna State Council, warning of the dare consequences should anyone claim to representing the Council.”
For the records, Kaduna State has been a bedrock of insecurity in Nigeria, especially, with dozens of killings and the abduction of innocent citizens, including hundreds of pupils and students from their schools by bandits.
