Oyinlola Awonuga writes campaign for the Chairmanship of the Lagos Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other executive positions in the upcoming September 29 election.
The September 29th election of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) promises to be a battle royale between two groups led by the incumbent Chairman, Dr. Quasim Akinreti and Mr. Leye Ajayi, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Akinreti and Ajayi are poised to slog it out for the Chairmanship position like they did two years ago when Akinreti won with 288 votes to 272.
Ajayi, former National Financial Secretary of the NUJ, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, flagged off his campaign at NAN Media Centre, while Akinreti launched his re-election campaign, tagged Consolidation 2020 at the Council Secretariat, Ladi Lawal House, Ikeja, Lagos with a promise of renewed commitment to take the association to a greater level in terms of members welfare, accountability, transparency and capacity building.
Among others, Ajayi’s campaign is hinged on repositioning the council, objectivity and orientation, members welfare and reactivation of the ICT Centre.
Both camps have embarked on campaign visits to various media houses to further explain their plans for the council and members.
Observers predict that victory in the Chairmanship election may swing either way following the realignment of forces in the two camps.
Eight out of 11 outgoing executive members of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) are backing Ajayi’s ambition for the chairmanship position, but the Akinreti’s camp says it is sure of victory.
Among Lagos NUJ executives who have declared their support for Ajayi are Abiola Beckley (Vice-Chairman), Alfred Odifa (Secretary), Adeola Ekine (NAWOJ Chairperson) and Debo Oshundun (SWAN Chairman). Others are Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe (Treasurer), Phillip Nwosu (Assistant Secretary) and Innocent Anaba (ex-officio member).
Speaking at Ajayi’s launch, Beckley, commended NAN staff for their support for Ajayi, explaining that she declared her support for Ajayi because ” there is no integrity in the current leadership of the Lagos Council of NUJ.”
Beckley, a staff of DAAR Communications, who is also seeking a second term, said that her chapel would also support Ajayi who was former President, Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
Other contestants in Akinreti’s camp, tagged “Consolidation 2020” are Raymond Tedunjaye of New Nigerian Newspaper as Secretary, Iyabo Wale-Eri of NTA Lagos, for the post of Financial Secretary and Isaac Ayodele of The Nation Newspaper, as Auditor.
Akinreti’s campaign launch started with a prayers session, which was held at the conference hall of the Lagos NUJ secretariat, undergoing re-modelling had both the Christian and Islamic clerics in attendance, including some members of the campaign team.
While Alhaji Abdullahi Saliu led other Muslim clerics in the Islamic prayers, Pastor Banji Oluwalana led the Pastors in the marathon prayer session, filled with fire and authority.
At the occasion, Oluwalana likened Akinreti to the biblical Daniel who declined to feast on the king’s sweet meal.
He described the NUJ chairman as an honest, transparent, trustworthy, and result-oriented leader, with passion for the progress of the Council and the Union at large.
Based on his achievements so far in the three years of Akinreti led administration, Alhaji Saliu posited that Akinreti deserves a second team in order to take the Lagos Council to a lofty height.
The Islamic cleric, who also commented on Akinreti’s welfare package for members and veteran journalists, said it is unprecedented.
Akinreti is an Online Journalist with Voice of Nigeria and Chairman, Education Committee, Lagos Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists. He has a Master’s Degree in Online Journalism from the Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK. in 2003. On his return, he has been involved in advocacy programmes for capacity building in ICT and Online Journalists for students of Mass Communication, Journalism Institute, Polytechnics and Journalist ICT Center in Lagos, Nigeria.
