BY PATRICK MGBODO
A transformative chapter has unfolded in the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), The Pointer Chapel, with the emergence of Comrade (Mrs) Rosemary Nwaebuni as the chairman—a milestone that signals the dawn of a new era.
At the keenly contested election, supervised by the Delta State Council of the NUJ and witnessed by chapel members, Comrade Nwaebuni was returned to pilot the chapel affairs for the next three years.
Others who were returned unopposed include the Vice Chairman, Comrade Innocent Osakwe; Comrade Victoria Isichei as Internal Auditor, and Comrade Tobore Umukoro as Treasurer.
In her acceptance, Comrade Nwaebuni pledged to run an inclusive administration that would promote and protect the interest and welfare of members, even as she called on all hands to work in the union’s interest.
Earlier, the immediate past chairman of the chapel, Comrade Sunday Egede highlighted some of the achievements recorded in his two-term stewardship, just as he thanked members of the union for their support and urged them to extend the same to his successor.
While congratulating the winners of the election, the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe underscored the essence of leadership as a call to service, charging them to carry every member of the chapel along.
Comrade Oyowe, reaffirming his pledge to the NUJ, tasked the new chapel chairman and her executives to embark on activities that would add value to the union. He also stressed the need for members to be financially responsible to the union, adding that such commitments should be taken seriously.
‘’Leadership is a call to service and that is how we should see it. Elections should not be a do-or-die affair. I thank God for those who have emerged; it was a result of popular decision and that is what democracy is all about,’’ Comrade Oyowe said.
Comrade Oyowe further directed that the new chapel chairman and her executives conduct an election for the secretary position and the Assistant Secretary position within 30 days.
At the end of the exercise, the new executives took the oath of office administered by the state NUJ secretary, Comrade Victor Sorokwu to, among other things, ‘’be faithful and bear true allegiance to the NUJ and discharge their duties to the best of their abilities following the constitution and the laws governing the union’’.
They pledged to preserve the aims and objectives of the NUJ, adding that in all circumstances, they would do right to all people without fear or favour and under the law
