NUJ 2024: LET THE ADOPTION, ENDORSEMENT OF CAPACITY, COMPETENCE CONTINUE
The Alhassan and Abimbola (A+A) Campaign Council wishes to express her gratitude and appreciation to Lagos State and Oyo State Councils of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for their separate unanimous adoption and endorsement of Comrade Alhassan Yahya and Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde as sole Presidential and Deputy Presidential Candidates for the coming National Triennial Delegates Conference of the Union in Imo state tagged “Owerri 2024”.
The campaign council wishes to state that political endorsements and adoptions are positive part of demß1ocratic and electoral processes as being witnessed even in the current American electioneering campaign.
The A+A Campaign Council rejects any negative insinuations in some quarters to the effect that “state councils and members to reject the adoption of candidates and instead, opt for elections based on a candidate’s competence and capacity.”
This kind of insinuations and negative imputations can only be borne out of envy and hopelessness when faced with impending and resounding defeat.
We state without mincing words that what Lagos and Oyo NUJ councils and members did, and which many more councils and members are waiting to do, is an endorsement and affirmation of the competence and capacity which they saw in the candidacy of Alhaji Comrade Alhassan Yahya and Abimbola Oyetunde.
Similarly we note also innuendos in some quarters that “NUJ is not a political party that must have a deceitful lineup of candidates….” This kind of remark can only be a product of mischief or naivety. There are historical proofs that likeminds in NUJ form lineups during delegates conferences at the national or state level. It shows strength, common vision, and unity of purpose which will be reflected in post election administration. We surely don’t need a central working committee where members will be working at cross purposes or where an individual will turn a petty dictator.
Alhassan and Abimbola as well as other candidates within their camp are no strangers to NUJ. Their rich historical antecedents and advertised manifesto are even more compelling and alluring to members of our great Union, hence the torrential endorsements.
The A+A Campaign Council, therefore, welcomes the endorsements and adoptions and even many more to come. We cannot help any sinking ship in this regard. The A+A Campaign Council is a moving train ready to take many more forward looking members of our Union on board, knowing that: “Forward Together, Greater Union”.
For the avoidance of doubt, Alhassan Yahya has made his manifesto clear and has been brilliantly espousing same everywhere he goes.
The NUJ Presidential Candidate, and the current Deputy National President of our Union, Comrade Alhassan Yahya promised that his administration would reintroduce insurance scheme (especially health insurance) and weigh in allowance for journalists.
He also made a commitment to restructure the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), establish NUJ online radio, develop the infrastructure at the NUJ Secretariat, ensure capacity building for journalists, sustain press freedom, and work with other stakeholders to attract FG intervention fund for the media and reintroduce a bill for new salary structure (media enhancement bill).
Yahya has also explained that he chose a female running mate because of his belief that women should be given equal opportunities, adding that if elected his deputy would not be a spare tyre, but equal contributor in the running of the Union alongside other stakeholders.
We reiterate that no force can stop an idea whose time has come! Please let the adoptions and endorsements come, we are ready to receive them and ultimately we are ready for the victory by God’s grace during the NUJ Triennial Delegates Conference slated for Owerri, Imo state on November 27, 2024.
E-Signed:
Comrade Kenneth Ofoma
Secretary General
A+A Campaign Council
Add Comment