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Two chairmanship candidates of the Kwara Council, of the NUJ Mr. Umar Abdulwahab who is the incumbent chairman, and Mr. Fadeyi Babajide Adeolu of Federal Information were absent at the Kwara NUJ Chairmanship Debate held on Thursday in Ilorin.
The debate, titled, ‘2021 Kwara NUJ Chairmanship Debate’ was organized by a leading Kwara Online media station, Just Event Online.
AbdulQadir Olayiwola, the moderator noted that all the four chairmanship candidates were invited for the debate but only two of them were present, saying that the two other candidates never indicated that they will be absent.
Abdullahi Dare Akogun of Sobi FM and Ahmed Lanre of Herald Newspaper were present for the debate.
The moderator interrogated the two Chairmanship candidates on leadership and Kwara NUJ improvement.
Dare Akogun who , said, he decided to contest for the chairmanship position to bring about much desired unity and change to the Kwara council of the NUJ.
He noted that the union has been deprived of quality leadership, representative democracy and members welfare which he described as an inhibitions to the growth and development of the union.
He said, “experience should be based on capacity and personal development, before you can aspire to lead a people you must have acquired requisite trainings that would have prepared you for position of leadership.
“Since 2014, I have attended trainings on the media both within and outside Nigeria.
“Kwara NUJ need people like me to lead the council because I have what it takes.” he added.
He also promised to facilitate training opportunities for members, and initiate a Conflict Resolution mechanism to bring all aggrieved members under one umbrella for the development of the union.
Ahmed Lanre of Herald Newspaper, while responding to questions said that he want to salvage Kwara NUJ, adding that there is disunity in the organization, which has been depriving its member right to contribute/impact truth.
He said, ” There is an usurpation of responsibilities in the present Kwara NUJ, if, given the chance to lead, I’ll reform the Kwara NUJ, my campaign is for salvation” .
The two candidates however said they’re ready to incorporate Kwara Online Media Professionals into NUJ.
The election is scheduled to hold 10th July 2021 at Kwara state, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Secretariat in Ilorin.
