At the end of its meeting in Akure, Ondo State, the Zone B of the Nigeria Union of Journalists adopted the National President of the union, Mallam Muhammed Garba, for a second term.
This adoption synchronises with the earlier adoption of the National Executive Council of the union in Port harcourt.
The zone also reposes its implicit confidence on Garba.
It commended the usual support of the Ondo State Government, particularly the recent payment of the second premium of insurance scheme for journalists in the state.
Members of the Lagos State Council of the NUJ and their counterparts from Kogi and Niger States have also approved Garba’s candidature.
Meanwhile, journalists in Lagos State at their recent monthly congress also endorsed the candidature of the Managing Editor of the Nation newspaper, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, for the post of Deputy National President of the union.
At the congress,, practising journalists in the state overwhelmingly voted for the trio of Odusile, Garba and the Secretary of the G-Zone, Adolphus Okonkwo, as official candidates of the state council in the forthcoming Triennial Delegates Conference of the union billed for May 24 to May 27, 2012 in Abuja.
Okonkwo is taking a shot at the position of the Financial Secretary of the union.
The congressional decision, which was taken via voting, saw those in support of the motion to back the trio polling 68 votes as against 15 votes from those that opposed the motion moved by Alhaji Usman Tongo of the FRCN chapel and seconded by Laja Thomas of the Vanguard chapel.
The Chairman of the state NUJ, Comrade Deji Elumoye, who moderated the voting process, had called for a vote after much debate on the priority or otherwise of the decision.
Elumoye had earlier informed the congress of the outcome of some meetings held by stakeholders and decision-making organs of the union.
In an emotion-laden voice, Elumoye recalled how the State Working Committee, the State Executive Council and the Council’s Leaders of Thought had agreed that Odusile be adopted alongside Garba for the presidency.
But despite Elumoye’s persuasion and convincing words on the need to tag along with these organs, some members at the congress insisted on a vote and this led to the democratisation of the process by Elumoye.
In his words, Elumoye said: “As democrats, we will divide the house, not because we don’t believe in our leaders, but because we need to prove to all and sundry that majority of Lagos journalists are in support of Garba and Odusile.”
The show of hands clearly vindicated Elumoye as shown in the result of the poll.
In their acceptance speeches, Garba and Odusile thanked all journalists in Lagos for their support and promised not to disappoint them.
According to Odusile, a good leader must be one of the people and also part of the people.
He said: “I’ve built my career from being a Reporter and I rose through the ranks to become a Managing Editor today. I am still part of you.
“At the union level, I started as chapel Secretary of the Concord Newspaper.
“I’ve being a state officer and a National Ex-Officio.
“I did not depart from you. I’ve been one of you, I’ve been a part of you and I still remain with you.
“Together, we shall take our union to the next level. I will never disappoint or fail you. Please trust me with your votes.”