NUJ PRESIDENT URGES MEDIA TO INTERROGATE POLITICAL ASPIRANTS FOR BETTER LEADERSHIP
REPORTER: AMECHI ODO
The National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, has called on the media to step up their role of interrogating the pedigree of candidates aspiring to occupy elective positions to enthrone pragmatic leaders.
He made the call when he led members of the Central Working Committee of NUJ and that of the Nigeria Union of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to pay a courtesy call on Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State at Government House Abakaliki.
Members of the NUJ Central Working Committee and that of NAWOJ were in Abakaliki Ebonyi State for their quarterly meeting.
The National President of NUJ, Comrade Isiguzo, who visited the Governor in company of the President of NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala and senior officers of the two Unions, called on the media to set up agenda to enable the citizens leverage on records to make informed choices of candidates during the forthcoming general election.
He called on political leader in Nigeria to look beyond pecuniary and mercantile considerations and provide opportunities for aspirants with capacity to transform the country.
The NUJ President commended Governor Umahi for the infrastructural transformation going on in Ebonyi State.
“From what we saw and what we heard about, your Excellency, even if we stay here in Ebonyi for the next two weeks, it will be difficult to appreciably earmark your landmark achievements in Ebonyi State.
“That is why the media must begin to talk about the positive things that are emanating from our democratic experience so that the rest of the country will fly with it,” he said.
The NAWOJ President, Mrs. Ladi Bala decried the negative impact of ethnicism and religious inclinations in the choice of the leaders, pointing out that Nigeria needed a bridge builder to reunite the country and change its negative narratives.
“We have come to a point in this country that we must set aside primordial sentiment, ethnic and religious sentiment and elect a leader who can unite this country. We need a leader who has vision. We don’t need to break up at a time like this,” the NAWOJ boss argued.
Governor Umahi said his presidential ambition had exposed him to the nature of politics being played in the country, emphasising that Nigerians would not get it right until they de-emphasised financial gains in choosing those to pilot the affairs of the nation.
“There is what is called gravitational infraction Al ratio, that is all you have gotten in terms of public funds over the tangibles you delivered. Let’s see how much you weigh on the ratio. I thought by now Nigerians would have been tired of promises,” the Governor said.
Members of the Central Working Committee had earlier visited some projects completed by the state government and others that are on-going, including Inyere Bridge in Afikpo South Local Government Area and International Airport Onueke.
