By Ayodeji Adesina
The Nation Newspaper’s Managing Editor, Mr Waheed Odusile, is now the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the umbrella body for practising journalists in print and electronic media in Nigeria.
He was elected as the new helmsman at the union’s election held in Abuja during the NUJ’s 2015 5th Triennial Delegates’ Conference. The election, albeit tensed, was adjudged successful and peaceful.
Mr. Odusile pulled a total of 354 votes to emerge winner while his closest rival, Mr Rotimi Obamuwugan, who scored 333 votes.
Other contestants for the position of the President included Mr. Dele Atunibi, who got 51 votes; USA Uzaka who received 46 votes and Alhaji Mustafa Lamidi who got 12 votes.
Mr. Odusile succeeds Malam Garba Mohammed. He was quoted to have said that his first ‘priority is to ensure employers in the media industry do not owe journalists their monthly salaries again’.
It would be recall that Mr. Odusile had promised during his campaign that he would embark on projects that would create jobs, generate revenue and serve as training ground for members and prospective journalists and also to put mechanisms and structures that would weed out quacks in the profession with a view to ensuring that journalists are treated with courtesies and dignity.
Meanwhile, commendations have started trailing his victory.
All Progressives Congress national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on his twitter handle congratulated Odusile on his election.
The former governor of Lagos state urged Odusile to elevate the standard of journalism in Nigeria.
“It is also an opportunity for you to elevate the standard of journalism and promote ethical conduct. It is tough assignment”, the Jagaban tweeted.
Also, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in a statement endorsed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, charged Odusile to ensure professional conduct among journalists.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, was equally reported to have sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected National President on his success at the polls.
“The peaceful conduct of the NUJ election is also a clear indication that Nigerian journalists are determined to walk the talk, practising the ideal they preach daily through their writings, and presentation on air. The global wish has always been the conduct of peaceful democratic elections without rancour and devoid of chaos. This is what Nigerian journalists have just done and I want to especially commend them for this lofty achievement. Indeed, your conduct is worthy of emulation,” Mr. Obasa said in a statement.
The NUJ, as a body was formally inaugurated on the 5th of March, 1955 after years of campaigns for such a body by a young editor with practical experience in Fleet Street, London, Chief Olu Oyesanya.
Interestingly, it must be not that NUJ, for 22 years after its formation operated as an unregistered union until 1978 when it was registered as a trade union by Decree 22 of 1978.
Mr. Mobolaji Odunewu*, then editor, Nigeria Pilot Newspaper was the first president of the body in 1955, but Mr. Michael Asaju was the first elected President when it was registered in 1978.
Media Career Service Board congratulates Mr. Odusile whose weekly column is eponymous and published every Tuesday, on his well deserved victory.
*Mr. Mobolaji Odunewu, was the elder brother of the late journalism doyen, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, erstwhile boss of Nigerian Press Council.
