NUJ NEC Dissolves Ogun Caretaker Committee, Orders Fresh Election

By Bukola Elufadejin

The highest decision making Organ of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ has dissolved the Caretaker Committee in Ogun State.

The decision followed the adoption of a position paper presented by the Vice President ,Zone B,Mrs Ronke Samo during the National Executive Council Meeting of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists held in Benin ,Edo State.

The Meeting presided over by the National President ,Chief Chris Isiguzo directed Chairmen and Secretaries of all the chapels in Ogun to immediately take over the mantle of leadership in the state while three member electoral committee was inaugurated.

The electoral committee members are Oyo State Chairman, Comrade Demola Babalola, Lagos Chairman, Comrade Adeleye Ajayi, Ekiti State Secretary, Kayode Babatuyi.

Below is the full detail of the position paper presented at the Meeting

POSITION PAPER PRESENTED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS, NUJ, ZONE B, AT THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, HELD IN BENIN, EDO STATE, ON THIS DAY THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER 2022.

OGUN CRISIS:REQUEST FOR DISSOLUTION OF CARETAKER COMMITTEE AND SETTING UP OF INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL UMPIRE

SALUTATION.
The National President
Nigeria Union of Journalists,& Congress of African Journalists,
The Deputy Nat.President
The National Secretary,
All National Officers
Fellow Vice Presidents of Zones,
NEC in session,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

INTRODUCTION.
My name is Ronke Afebioye Samo, Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Zone B.
I rise before this honourable gathering to speak on behalf of my Zonal Secretary, National Trustee (Southwest), Chairmen and Secretaries in my zone over a matter that has become source of concern to every leader in the southwest. The
Ogun crisis is an inherited dilemma handed over to me as one of the liabilities of the union by my predecessor, Comrade Cosmas Oni, when I took over in October 2021 and since then I have done everything within my capacity to resolve the matter and at a point I lost my sleep.

It is inevitable to experience crisis but as a responsible leader it is sacrosanct to devise all possible means to reconcile warring parties and this is why I wish to make some request which if approved by this house would go a long way at putting the about four year lingering crisis to rest.

BACKGROUND.

The Ogun crisis started in 2019 after some members of a chapel were allegedly disenfranchised during an election supervised by the immediate past Vice President, Zone B, Comrade Cosmas Oni.
The election was annulled by the National Secretariat and a caretaker was put in place to conduct a fresh election within three months.

However, some aggrieved members led by one of the contestants, Late Comrade Soji Amosun went to court to seek redress and since then, it has been one controversy after the other.

RECONCILIATION AND INTERVENTION.

So far, several steps have been taken by the National Secretariat, individuals, veterans and other leaders within and outside the council to resolve the matter and bring the council back to life but the situation kept escalating.

FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST RECONCILIATION.

According to Jimi Hendrix,
When the love of power overcomes the power of love, the world will know no peace.

Having visited Ogun Council at different intervals and from the many meetings held with various groups, it has been observed that some gladiators who are cashing out from the crisis have continued to truncate all processes of reconciliation.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

1.With all due respect, I wish to humbly recommend and request that NEC in session approve the dissolution of the caretaker committee which has been in place for almost two years.

Aside the fact that the committee had over stayed, it has also failed to achieve its mandate and it is obvious that it can not do any better.

2.That NEC in session direct chairmen and Secretaries of the chapels in the council to take over the leadership of the council as stated by the NUJ constitution in Article 5C, section (9)(c) from 17th of November 2022 until election takes place in Ogun Council of NUJ

3. That NEC in session should please approve the setting up of an independent electoral body from among the leadership of the state councils in Zone B to work with the SEC members to conduct fresh election within one month, commencing from the date the chapel chairmen and Secretaries take over.

4.That in the case where parties involved failed to comply with the NEC decision, the Secretariat of the council should be shut with the support of security agents.

CONCLUSION.
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. It is my believe that if these recommendations are approved, new leadership will emerge seamlessly in Ogun and the lingering crisis in the council will be laid to rest.

APPRECIATION.

I humbly and sincerely appreciate the National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo MFR,the National Secretary, National Trustee,Zone F and B, and all Zone B leaders for the various efforts put in place to resolve the Ogun crisis over time. It is not over yet until it is over.
I am optimistic that better days are ahead and we shall all smile and rejoice.

Thanks.

Signed.
Ronke Samo for Chairmen and Secretaries of NUJ Zone B.