Lawyers in the Media join Atiku, Ambode & others to congratulate Odusile

The Lawyer in the Media who have sent Forum  (LIM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has joined its voice to other well meaning Nigerians sent congratulatory messages to the newly elected president of the  Abdulwaheed Odusile on his election as the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)

In a statement signed by the Chairman of LIM, John Austin Unachukwu, the forum urged Odusile to use his  wealth of experience  to improve the welfare of  Nigerian Journalists.

The Lawyers in the Media called on all working Journalists to join hands with the new executives of the NUJ to move the NUJ forward and make maximum contributions to  the course of nation building.

“It is our firm belief that the new NUJ ExCo will definitely improve the lot of Nigerian Journalists. Once again we say congratulations.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a press statement released by his Media Office in Abuja on Sunday, 26 July the former Vice President said the time of the emergence of Odusile to lead the NUJ is significant and momentous in view of the mandate by Nigerians to President Muhammadu Buhari to enthrone change in the way they are being governed. The former Vice President urged the NUJ leader to take the controversial and vexed issue of welfare of journalists seriously, and should strive to be different and active in working for better conditions of service and remuneration for working journalists and even the retired ones.

In the same vein, Governor Ambode has also congratulated Odusile. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the Governor commended the peaceful and democratic process that preceded his victory. He urged Odusile to ensure that professionalism and high ethical standards are entrenched in the practice of journalism in the country. “While I congratulate you on the singular felicity of your emergence as the NUJ President, I urge you to work assiduously to improve the professional standard for the practice of Journalism and also ensure that high ethical standards are adhered to. This is the only way to ensure credibility in journalism as the Fourth Estate of the Realm”, the Governor said.

Abdulwaheed Odusile of the Nation Newspapers was elected to succeed Malam Garba Mohammed as the new president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ. He was declared winner of the keenly contested election by the returning officer and Director of African Affairs at the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, Gabriel Baglow.

At the National Delegates Conference of NUJ held in Abuja on Saturday, Odusile polled 354 votes to defeat his closest rival, Rotimi Obamuwagun who garnered 333 votes.

Other contestants for the position of President included Dele Atunibi, who got 51 votes, USA Usaka, who received 46 votes and Alhaji Mustafa Lamidi who got 12 votes. While the positions of Deputy National President, National Internal Auditor and the Vice-President, North-Central, were filled unopposed. Mohammad Shu clinched the position of the financial secretary of the union after he secured 454 votes to defeat his contender Ajayi Olugbenga. The post of the National Treasurer went to Monica Okechukwu, who got 310 votes to defeat two other contestants, namely, Mr. Garba Iliya and Ambrose Nwachukwu.

Chris Isiguso was declared winner of the position of South-East Vice-President after he defeated Goddy Okafor, while Aisha Ibrahim clinched the position of Vice-President North-East. Other officials elected were Opaka Dokubo, Sonal Secretary,South South, Mr. Kenneth Ofoma Sonal Secretary, South-East while Suleiman Ibrahim emerged Secretary, North-East. Similarly, Mr. Hakeem Olatidoye emerged Secretary, North-Central and Mr. Lawal Afolabi won the post of the Secretary, South-West Sone.

Delegates to the conference were drawn from NUJ councils from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.