A formidable Union strategist and immediate past Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Patrick Ochei has said that the new NUJ President, Comrade Alhaji Alhassan Yahya emerged winner of the national election as a result of the strong belief of delegates in his impeccable experience to pilot the affairs of the Union positively, and of course, the need to give chance to equity.
Ochei gave this analysis while congratulating the newly elected President after his landslide victory at the 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the NUJ on Wednesday 27th November, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State.
The former Secretary who played a key role in mobilizing delegates to vote for Alhassan, had indicated that it was only reasonable to allow such a man with enormous professional experience of being a two-term Secretary of Gombe State Council, two-term Chairman of Gombe State Council, Zonal Vice President of Zone E and two-term Deputy President of NUJ to lead the Union at this time.
He further hinged his explanation on equity, positing that the best way to achieve both professional and political balance in the Union was to allow the North produce the President after the two predecessors – Comrade Waheed Odusile and Comrade Chief Christopher Isiguzo of the Southern region had consecutively held the position for three terms.
According to Ochei, “I feel so elated that a people’s delight, cool, calm and calculated professional administrator has emerged to lead our Union in the next three years and God’s willing in the next six years.
“I am proud because, our voices counted, like it is said in Mass Communication class, ‘Vox Populi Vox Dei’. We did it in a rancour free and camaraderie atmosphere. This is the kind of synergy and professional understanding that is required to continue to keep the Union together, maintain our professional ethos and continue to mainstream media relevance as watchdog of the society.
“Let me use this medium to appreciate our leaders like Comrade Norbert Chiazor, Comrade Kingsley Azuh, Comrade Stella Macaulay, Asiwaju Shola Adebayo and others who worked assiduously from the background to ensure that our national leader, Comrade Alhassan Yahya emerged as President. And of course too, it’s my singular honour to also commend the peaceful and ingenious work of the Credentials Committee led by a Deltan and former Council Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu. Like we say in our local parlance, ‘Deltans no dey carry last’.
“Once again, I sincerely congratulate Comrade Alhassan Yahya for this sweet victory in the history of NUJ. I wish him all the best in the next few years, and I urge him to bring to bear his wealth of experience in midwifing an accountable, firm and fair leadership. Let’s keep supporting him, he deserves our unalloyed support”, Comrade Ochei appealed.
