NUJ 2018: Presidential aspirant, Christopher embarks on consultation tour, visits Kaduna council
0
(L-R NUJ Chairman, Kaduna, Comr Yusuf Adamu hosting the August visitor, Comr Christopher Isigwuzo in Kaduna on Friday. Photo by Femi Adi)
Ahead of the National Convention of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) where new set of national leaders will emerge, one of the unionists, who is aspiring for the post of National President, Comrade Christopher Isigwuzo has embarked on consultation tour.
Isigwuzo, who is the Vice President, Zone C (Southeast), Friday evening, alongside others visited Kaduna state secretariat of NUJ where he was received by the leadership of the union and host of other top journalists in the state.
His Campaign Director General, the immediate past Chairman of the NUJ, Kogi State chapter, Ali Atabor said, he’s supporting the aspirant from the Zone C because he’s doing very well as the VP.
“If we are looking at Comrade Waheed Odusile who is not performing as expected and we are looking for a replacement, this man is that replacement.
“He’s the Bureau Chief of Thisday Newspaper, President General of his community development association among others. Within the last 36 months they have served, he has held ten zonal meetings possibly the highest. This is the type of leader we need. The entire chapel in the Northeast are united under him.
“If at zonal level, he can be that productive, why can’t we support him to do more by giving him the opportunity to serve at national level. I’m just introducing him to us because the campaign will start in three weeks time.
“If we can remember, the immediate past President of our union, Comrade Muhammed Garba left a peaceful, progressive and united union than what we have today.
“I am looking at your capacity to deliver not on the basis of religion or ethnicity like what many of us who call ourselves journalists do, but on the basis of capability. I a Muslim and he’s a christian. Its all about competency and dynamism.
Addressing the council, the aspirant, Isigwuzo expressed optimism that candidates from Kaduna will give him full support during the convention which comes up in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria this September.
“I’m happy to be in Kaduna once again. Two days ago, Abia Council bought the form for me and in unison, presented the form to me to run for the national president. I was shocked. That form has been filled and submitted at the national secretariat of the union in Abuja.
“The essence of unionism is to ensure that the welfare of members are protected and whenever that is not done, the salt has lost its taste and no longer needed.
“What we’ve been able to do at the levels we have operated, I don’t think we have failed. For example, when they handed over to me six years ago, only a pen was handed over. But by the time I will be handing over to the incoming VP for the zone, I will be handing over a brand new operational vehicle and functional secretariat.
“When Garba was at the helm of affairs, NUJ was well represented in all important areas of the economy but today, that is no longer happening.
“God willing with your support, we will give you the type of leadership we all yearn for when our convention comes up in Abeokuta”, he stressed.
Earlier, Chairman, NUJ, Kaduna Council, Comrade Yusuf Adamu noted that, the presidential aspirant and his team were not I the State secretariat for the first time.
He said, “I am happy to say Comrade Chris has been in Northern Nigeria especially Kaduna for a long time. He’s not a stranger in our midst. He visited Luka Binniyat while in prison. So, it is not for the purpose of consultation that he came but as a friend of the house.
“Gone are the days when anyhow personality will emerge as our national leaders. We have 28 votes here in Kaduna and we are going to support anyone that we know will take the NUJ to grater height”, added the Chairman.