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A leading candidate for the July 10th Kwara Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) elections, Abdullahi Dare Akogun, has said that if elected, his administration will hugely report the activities of the state government which he said is grossly under reported.
Akogun stated this on Thursday in Ilorin while canvassing for votes from members of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin chapel members.
“We shall ensure that we put in place, a Union that really report the activities of the Kwara state government, which I can say is grossly under reported.
“We will do this by ensuring that we collaborate with different arms and tiers of government to bring to fore, developments witnessed across the State, and offer advice where necessary on issues, in a way that would be beneficial to the general public” He said.
He said it is an open secret, how the council has groomed army of angry members, due to the ways her members are treated with disdain by the state council l.
“I share in your grouses and not unaware of the marginalisation that your chapel have been subjected to for some time now.
“I bring you good tidings, that by the grace of Almighty God and your potent electoral power, we shall reverse this ugly trend.
“This Chapel is very significant in the annal of our State Council.
“I recall that this Chapel produced the likes of Senator Smart Adeyemi, first as Chairman Kwara Council and then as National President of our great union before he moved on to become a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic.
“There are still many potential ‘Smart Adeyemis’ among you, my dear colleagues of NTA, Ilorin Chapel. But your spirits appear to have been dampened by long years of exclusivity brought upon this chapel by some people that preside over our collective affairs at the state level.
“But not be discouraged, my Comrades, for we are at the threshold of a new era of inclusiveness if you give me your mandate to become the Chairman of Kwara NUJ” Akogun said.
Akogun said he is seeking to be the Chairman of the state Council of NUJ is not to portray himself as the best, but rather, rendering himself as an ideal servant ready to be used to reshape our Union to proper perspective.
“I strongly believe in the potentials of NUJ and not oblivious of the competence and capability of media practitioners in Kwara. We can make the Kwara NUJ a good reference point by other councils in the zone and the Nation as a whole.
“If I have your mandate to lead this Council as Chairman, I promise to run an all inclusive government, that ensures all the executives and members truly see the Union as theirs and collectively take responsibility for the success of our mission statement and the vision I have for the Council.
“The welfare of members shall be my prime focus as well as enabling opportunities that will make our members walk tall in the State and the country as a whole, and be proud to call the Union their own, wherever they find themselves.
“The Kwara NUJ needs two things to take it to greater heights; a new class of leaders that are servants at heart, and not just there to push their pockets and agenda of a few people, and Members that know their rights and won’t just accept whatever is handed to them, rather they demand proper governance” Akogun explained.
He said his administration shall ensure that it follows the international best practices in Union relations template and its workings, towards achieving welfare packages that reach out to members, without anyone being left out in the scheme of affairs.
Akogun promised to give the Kwara NUJ a government of accountability, reliability, transparency, honesty and inclusiveness, where all members shall be treated fairly, equally and given sense of belonging.
He urged members to eschew all negative, religious or ethnic sentiments and become patriotic Unionists for the development of our union.
