The Zonal Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone C (South East) has defended the choice of Umuahia, Abia State capital, as venue of its Triennial National Delegates Conference scheduled to hold on 4th of October, 2021.
The union’s defence is coming on the heels of the alarm raised by Petrus Obi, a member of the union who has been suspended.
Obi had opposed the choice of the South East region over security concerns.
In a statement co-signed by 13 officials of the zone, the union reiterated that the current security challenges cuts beyond the South East Region, citing recent attacks and killings in Kaduna, Plateau and Abuja.
“It has come to the knowledge of Zonal Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone C (South East) of a mischievous, unnecessary and false alarm raised by Petrus Obi purporting that South East region of Nigeria is not safe to host the 7th triennial delegates conference of NUJ slated for 4th October, 2021 at Umuahia, Abia State.”
“This red herring is the usual stock in trade of embattled Obi, who has remained recalcitrant to all peace overtures all aimed at giving him a soft landing following his suspension as Vice President Zone C, by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union.
“The zonal leadership (Zone C) of the Union unanimously disclaim Obi, a lone ranger on a failed mission to cause panic and sow fear in the minds of NUJ members and delegates to the coming Triennial Delegates Conference, just in the name of playing politics.
“The reality on ground is that South East is relatively peaceful and safe, and can conveniently host the delegates conference, even as it is a notorious fact that no region or part of the country is immune to insecurity today.
“The fact that even the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, a place considered as a security fortress could be invaded by bandits, early hours of Tuesday August 23, 2021, kill officers and kidnap some, is a shouting testimony that no place is safe in the country today.
“To further buttress this point, the same early hours of Tuesday, a police Commander of IGP squad was killed alongside other police personnel and civilians in Plateau state by gun men.
“Also, even the nation’s federal capital territory (Abuja) has increasingly come under security threats in recent time with no day passing without a resident, including security personnel (Police, Immigration, Civil Defence etc) being kidnapped and others being killed,” the statement read in part.
While acknowledging the efforts of the federal government in combating the monstrous security challenges, the union however assured members of their safety before, during and after the conference.
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