UMUAHIA- The President of Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Mallam Mohammed Garba has urged politicians in the country to focus on how to tackle the current security challenges, instead of overheating the polity because of the 2015 general election.
Garba warned that such actions and inciting comments and statements as being the order of the day amongst politicians could possibly lead to anarchy.
Garba said that the current security challenges in some parts of the country should be a major concern to the politicians, instead of heating up the system for their selfish reasons.
The NUJ President spoke in Umuahia on a day he commended Governor Theodore Orji for his developmental programme in Abia state.
The Union leaders were in the state to hold their National Executive Council meeting which was declared open by Governor Theodore Orji.
He said: “The political situation in the country is now very tensed, as there are increasing cases of arrest, assault and intimidation of journalists in the country. The security challenges as presently faced in some parts of the country should be a source of concerned to all.
Though the NUJ president noted that the country had attained a reasonable height in the area of press freedom, he condemned the recent arrest of four journalists in Abuja, redeployment of an information officer at the federal level and the fine of N2 million naira on a Kaduna based radio station, which he said were clear indication that the press is not truly free.
“This is the second time we are holding our NEC meeting this quarter in 2013, and I want to believe that it will be an opportunity to discuss and reflect on our activities in 2012, as well as re-strategize implementation for our strategic plan for 2013. I also want to believe that the meeting will also afford us the opportunity to discuss our dear country Nigeria”, Garba said.
He commended Governor Orji for what he had achieved in the sate, saying “one thing I want to assure you is that if you are not performing, I will tell you, but one thing is that you are performing, you have added more to the lives of the people of the State”.
Declaring the meeting open, Orji thanked the NUJ for considering holding their NEC meeting in the State, saying that it was the first time such meeting was held in the State since its creation.
Governor Orji described the accolades he received from the Union over his performance as unbiased, “I don’t have any doubts also that the NUJ took note of our achievements during the good governance tour to our State”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Council chairman of NUJ, Comrade Hyacinth Okoli appealed to the State Governor to complete the permanent secretariat of the council.
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