NUJ Kaduna crisis deepens as impeached Chairman Garba, allegedly breaks in, replaces locks
Impeached Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna Council, Garba Muhammed on Tuesday allegedly spotted at the state secretariat of the union, broken the keys to his former office and replace with new ones.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of the union in the State, Dauda Idris Doka and made available to newsmen in Kaduna. The scribe said in the statement that the Council’s executive committee had already reported the matter to the Police to avoid breake down if law and order.
“It could be recalled that after our Congress held on the 7th September 2016, in the former Chairman’s many offences were debated upon leading to his impeachment. After that five out of six executive members passed a vote-of-no-confidence on him, and communicated same to our National Headquarters 19th September, 2016 . The Commissioner of Police was also served with a copy of the communiqué.
“In a brazen show of force, Mallam Garba arrived at the premises of Kaduna Council Secretariat with a few armed members and thugs. They were very unruly, and wielded machetes and knives creating tension in the secretariat and environs. They then forced open the office of the acting Chairman. Garba ransacked the office and left with certain documents which we are yet to be ascertained because he brought in carpenters who changed the locks.
“We have written to the Divisional Police Officer, Gabasawa, on the matter. We call on relevant authority to ensure that the provocation and intimidation by Garba and a few vocal and violent members do not lead to a breakdown of law and order. The executive is worried about this development.
“We call on all our bona-fide members not to respond to any verbal of physical attack. We also commend the mature and urbane manner they have responded so far. That is what is expected of our profession”, the statement read.