Unending Plots For The Secret Sale Of Imo NUJ Secretariat Former Chairman Writes Gov Uzodinma, Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Chairman  writes Governor, Police

A former Chairman of the Imo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Ben Osuagwu, has expressed deep concern over the unrelenting quest by some alleged unscrupulous characters to dispose of the Imo Press Centre.

He has, therefore,  passionately appealed to the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma,

and relevant Security Agencies to wade in and prevent the sale of the only property which belongs to the umbrella body of  Nigerian journalists in the State.

In a letter addressed to Governor Uzodinma and the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, Osuagwu lamented that despite the matter being in court, some people are still making desperate attempts to sell the State, NUJ, Secretariat in Owerri, the State capital.

The Source reports that the issue first came to the front burner during the Governor’s first tenure when some Government officials were alleged to have colluded with some NUJ officials both at the State and National levels to sell the property to some vested interests.

However, the alleged unholy transaction was aborted at the eleventh hour through the combined efforts of the State Government, Security and some well meaning members of the NUJ in the state .

But of recent, there have been alleged moves by some persons believed to be the arrow heads of the controversial transaction to lock up the Secretariat despite the matter being in court.

The issue has since been litigated with the NUJ Imo State battling to safeguard its prized asset .

But the former NUJ chairman in his letter, regretted that rather than allow the matter to run its full legal course, some elements probably trying to justify the huge up-front payments made to them by the  buyers are bent on disposing of the property.

According to him, the property in question was duly given to the NUJ ,during his tenure as the state Chairman by the former Military Administrator of the State Commander Amadi Ikwechegh.

He asserted that all the official documents and title deeds were received by him on behalf of the NUJ .

He, therefore, expressed surprise how some people will,suddenly, contemplate selling a collective propertyafter clandestinely collecting money from some persons.

He described the planned sale of the NUJ Secretariat as completely outrageous, insulting and unacceptable to not only working journalists in Imo state ,but the entire country.

Comrade Osuagwu alleged that those known to be pushing very hard for the sale of the NUJ property are not from the State.

He advised them to go and sell the ones in their States if they are all that desperate and leave what he described as the only  visible monument for Journalists in  Imo state .

“I wonder why people think that being elected into office makes them Emperors that they will take unilateral decisions.The era of imperialism is over .

“I humbly appeal to the State Governor and the police Commissioner to stop the move by some criminally minded people.

“The matter, I learnt, is in Court. They should allow  it to end in the Court.Why hurrying to go and lock up the centre?

If the money they, allegedly, collected from some people is choking them, they should look elsewhere and cough out the money”, Osuagwu stated.

The Source reports that some past Imo state NUJ officials and National leaders of the body are, allegedly, deeply involved in the now controversial transaction with several millions of Naira already exchanging hands.