Delta Online Publishers Forum, (DOPF), a registered and certified body of online newspaper publishers, has decried the greed showcased in the handling of the N25 million support given to newspaper publishers and Journalists in Delta State by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
In a press statement by Dopf Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli and Secretary, Mr. Shedrack Onitsha
the Forum said it had therefore passed a vote of no confidence in the Comrade Mike Ikeogwu-led Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ over its various greed, lack of transparency and accountability as displayed in the disbursement of the support.
However, in a reaction, the State Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council passed a vote of confidence on the Comrade Michael Ikeogwu led State Working Committee, describing their actions in recent times as wonderful.
Recall that the State Governor during the inauguration of the New Government House Press Centre cum Media chat on March 13, 2023, expressed appreciation to the press, especially acknowledging the role of the media in promoting government policies and programmes, in appreciation honored Newspaper publishers and journalists in the state with the Money.
This, though came as a surprise package, however, journalists were happy, especially with the cash crunch situation which currently is affecting the nation, but their joy was later cut short as the fund was corruptly appropriated by the Delta State Council of NUJ that warehoused the fund.
Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF as a body was invited to the programme like any other body, including the NUJ Delta State Council through the office of the Public Relations Officer, Government House, Asaba. This has been the tradition between us and the State Government in the event of any activity that will require us to attend, like in other times, we attended in our numbers.
We discovered that the NUJ Delta State Council, after much delay from 13 March 2023 to March 22, 2023, released a sharing structure thus: The correspondents Asaba were given N3.2 million; Warri Correspondents, N2.2 million; Indigenous Correspondents; N750,000.00; Ughelli Chapel, N750,000.00; Sapele Chapel, N400,000.00; Association of Community Newspapers of Nigeria, N300,000.00 and DOPF N300, 000.00.
This we consider belittling and insulting to DOPF and its members.
We discovered that NUJ Delta State Council didn’t disburse up to N10m from the Governor’s gift to Chapels and other groups; hence we have rejected the money and sent it back to the NUJ Delta State Council, through the Chairman, Mr Mike Ikeogwu.
Our Executive Council and Board of Trustees after extensive deliberation, passed a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on Comrade Mike Ikeogwu-led NUJ Delta State Council and have also directed our members to henceforth shun Delta Government briefings, press releases and other media related activities, until this anomaly is addressed.
However, we hereby place on record categorically, our sincere and profound gratitude, to His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, for his legendary generousity and magnanimity to the Publishers and Journalists in the state over the years, and especially with this latest largess, he voluntarily released to ease the burdens imposed on Nigerians, by the on-going Naira redesign/cash swap fiasco.
However, in a reaction, the State Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council passed a vote of confidence on the Comrade Michael Ikeogwu led State Working Committee, describing their actions in recent times as wonderful.
The SEC meeting which held today, Wednesday 29th March, 2023, deliberated on various issues affecting the Union and concluded that Ikeogwu and his Exco had done well, especially with the disbursement of money recently given to it by the State Government during the Quarterly Media Briefing by the Governor.
In a convivial atmosphere where members openly aired their views, some of them saw the need to pass a vote of implicit confidence on the State Working Committee to prove to detractors that the union is one and that the Exco had done well in managing the affairs of the Union.
The motion which was moved by Comrade Christian Ogoh and seconded by Comrade Abel Johngold with an amendment by Comrade Pere Botu to appreciate and commend Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his media friendly disposition, affirmed that the State Exco acted in accordance with the Constitution of NUJ in carrying out recent actions as they affect the union.
In solidarity with the leadership of NUJ, the journalist turned Monarch and renowned member of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, Udurhie 1, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom walked into the SEC meeting where he addressed members to continue to work together in the spirit of harmony and upholding the professional ethics of the union.
He said the union had done well under the sterling leadership of Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, maintaining that he was always pleased with the comradeship exhibited by members in the interest of peace and unity.
As a father, he admonished all and sundry to work in synergy with Comrade Michael Ikeogwu to achieve needed milestone for the Union, adding that NUJ as the fourth estate of the realm deserves better as a critical segment of the society.
Signed by the 32 members of SEC present.
