NUJ Delta State Council Election: l Am Prepared To Serve You More Than Ever Before, lkeogwu Tells Members

By Oguns Sammy

Ahead of the July 2 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State Council election, the Chairman of the state council, Comrade Mike Ikeogwu, has said he was ready to work with his team to serve the people more ever before in his second tenure if voted into office to pilot the affairs of the union for the next three years.

Mike Ikeogwu stated this yesterday Wednesday, when his campaign team known as Redemption Team visited NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel.

Highlighting some of his landmark achievements in the past three years in office, Comrade lkeogwu said he inherited virtually nothing in terms of money when he took over the mantle of leadership three years ago, adding that he was able to come out with a blue print to move the Union forward.

Among other things, he said it was during his tenure the court case involving land with which the permanent secretariat of the union would be built was resolved, the union was more united than ever, the monthly stipend for journalists which was stopped years ago was renewed, the NUJ permanent secretariat which could not be built solidly despite sixty million naira collected by the previous administration from the Government of Delta State under the leadership of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan was revisited and now being constructed, the union was able to refurbish the only car and a bus belonging to the union which was dead years ago, saying they now hit the road among other achievements.

The vibrant union leader said his administration will be more open than his first one if given the opportunity to serve.

He said:”l am ready to better the welfare of members the more if given the opportunity to serve a second tenure.”

The NUJ Chairman therefore solicited the vote of members in order to move the council to greater heights.

Respondimg, an Elder of Warri Correspondent chapel, Chief Amurun Omafume thanked the Mike Ikeogwu campaign train for their visit.
He said the union has thrown its weight. behind Mike Ikeogwu for his second term bid. He added that going by what Mike Ikeogwu achieved in his first administration is a pointer to the fact that he would do more if given second term in office.

He said: “You (MIke) need not tell us what you have done in the first tenure. We have eyes and we can see, so, we wish you well.”

The veteran journalist (Chief Amurun Omafume) however cautioned the various aspirants vying for different offices to go about their campaign in a peaceful and orderedly manner as election into the various offices is not a do or die affair.

He said: “l frowned at some of the ways some people are taking the election going by their comments on NUJ’s platform. Election is not do or die; it is just for a person to occupy the office and oversee our interrest.”

Also speaking was another journalist, Alloy Okerieke.
He said Warri chapel of the union is solidly behind Mike Ikeogwu and his team and urged them to adopt house to house campaign to solicit for votes for the team.
Also, Felix Ekwu of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, also an aspirant, said campaign should go beyond house to house but broad-based to enable the people know that the Redemption Team is worth voting into office.

Highpoint of the visit was prayer offerred to Mike Ikeogwu and his team by Elder Chief Amurun Omafume for their victory during the July 2 NUJ election.