FUNKE ADETUTU
My adventurous instincts again took me on another journey last Friday. But was I amused? Certainly not! Rather, the outing left me with no option but to ponder and ask some questions to which I’ve still not found answers. Yes, I admit, I was initially elated and very optimistic about the outcome of the trip that when a colleague told me about it two weeks ago, I did not turn down the invitation.
The place was Abuja and the event was the historic election of the National president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Since I witnessed the election of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists’ own last year, I thought it would be a worthwhile experience to witness the NUJ presidential election at the national level.
As usual, I looked forward to a fun-filled trip and stay in Abuja. At least, I had a
nice time with the wonderful and energetic women I travelled with to Ibadan for the NAWOJ election in Ibadan. The experience is still very fresh in my memory. I therefore did not expect anything less from Abuja as well but unfortunately, the end result of the election left a sour taste in my mouth which I’m sure will remain for a long time to come.
The International Conference Centre, venue of the election was already a beehive of activities when the convoy of the Lagos State delegates arrived the centre that Saturday morning. The Abuja weather was far from being friendly as the sun arrogantly stayed glued high up and its scorching rays fell brilliantly on the skin, leaving an unfriendly warmth in its wake.
We all went through the screening process at the gate and entrance to the hall. The posters and billboards of the four contestants for the presidential post littered a greater part of the hall’s frontage. Funke Fadugba’s poster was the first to assault our eyes as it was strategically placed to the right, followed by that of Muhammed Garuba. Next to
His; was Ndagene Aku’s. Aku, incidentally is the immediate past president of NUJ whose tenure is just elapsing and the last to the left was Wahaab Oba’s.
Inquisitively, I noticed that with the way the posters were arranged, there seemed to be a contention between the four main contestants, most especially between Garuba, Aku and Oba. Wherever there was a Wahaab Oba’s poster there was bound to be that of Aku or that of Garuba. It was glaring the supporters of each camp tried as much as possible to out one another in their aggressive campaign for their candidates. In fact, supporters could be easily identified through the campaign T-Shirts they adorned in a show of solidarity for their candidate.
By the time we finally scaled through the somewhat rigorous screening process, the event had already gone half-way. However, the various recognition and protocols, characteristic of events of this nature were skipped in the spirit of re-branding the new Nigeria which was ‘okayed’ by everyone as the programme was not delayed unnecessarily.
That afternoon, I could tell from the look on the faces of everyone in that large hall that Adams Oshiomhole struck a cord in the minds of all present and his admonition had a positive impact on them because this later affected the peoples’ reaction to the outturn of events later that evening.
After Oshiomhole’s speech, we all became restless as we eagerly looked forward to the elections. Shortly after the various speeches, we went for lunch and were soon called back for the Business Meeting.
While launching was going on, a group of people from the Eastern part of the country protested the re-election of Ndagene Aku as NUJ president with placards bearing negative descriptions of his person.
As I watched the group from a distance, I was scared stiff and prayed quietly no untoward thing should happen between these rivals. Indeed, the atmosphere was tense that afternoon, and from the look of things, and what was generally said of Ndagene, there was this palpable fear that he was not ready to relinquish power.
Before long, the Business Meeting began in earnest but the president was no where to be found. The whole hall had to wait for several minutes if not hours for Ndagene. Since he failed to show up, someone walked up to the podium to suggest that in his absence, the deputy president should take his place as stated by the NUJ constitution. But interestingly, even the deputy president was no where to be found--- he was said to be praying at a mosque somewhere. It was at this point, that most people went outside the hall to purchase a copy of the NUJ Constitution. In fact, a group from Benin who sat in front of us were raising tantrums at the top of their voices against Ndagene whom they claim to “know quite well.” After a long wait, the deputy president surfaced and the whole hall shouted for joy. You could see it wasn’t so much for their love for him but the fact that “the end has finally come for Ndagene.” Alreading all over the venue surrounding, there were posters screaming the delegates’ distaste for the Ndagene led administration. Several allegations bordering on misappropriation of fund and embezzlement were leveled against him.
But in a dramatic twist, soon Ndagene re-surfaced from nowhere and when he spoke, he urged that the accreditation should be done before the dissolution of his executive. Naturally, a resounding “no” from the audience rent the air in stiff opposition to his proposal. This led him to another round of delays in the name of “consultation” with his colleagues on the high table, unmindful of the sea of heads that was eagerly waiting.
Eventually he gave in and the motion for the dissolution of his executive was moved. “Would anyone like to move a motion for the extension of my tenure?” he asked jokingly. But again, he met a stoned faced audience that was obviously not willing to have him remain on that seat for a second longer. It was at this point that I was fully convinced that Ndagene was indeed power drunk.
What I found saddening later that evening was the allegation that the delegate lists sent in from the various councils were fraudulently altered which made it impossible for the delegates to cast their votes. For instance, the chairman of the Osun State Council said his list was cut down from 31 to 14 which was incredible if proven to be true!
If the NUJ could go this low and do this, then what message do we as journalists have to preach to a society for which we are its watchdog? It was just a waste of resources convening such a large number of people from different parts of the country without the elections holding as it was suspended.
Sure, it’s really sad that we have no one to tell our own story while we criticise others for their misdemeanor.
My adventurous instincts again took me on another journey last Friday. But was I amused? Certainly not! Rather, the outing left me with no option but to ponder and ask some questions to which I’ve still not found answers. Yes, I admit, I was initially elated and very optimistic about the outcome of the trip that when a colleague told me about it two weeks ago, I did not turn down the invitation.
The place was Abuja and the event was the historic election of the National president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Since I witnessed the election of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists’ own last year, I thought it would be a worthwhile experience to witness the NUJ presidential election at the national level.
As usual, I looked forward to a fun-filled trip and stay in Abuja. At least, I had a
nice time with the wonderful and energetic women I travelled with to Ibadan for the NAWOJ election in Ibadan. The experience is still very fresh in my memory. I therefore did not expect anything less from Abuja as well but unfortunately, the end result of the election left a sour taste in my mouth which I’m sure will remain for a long time to come.
The International Conference Centre, venue of the election was already a beehive of activities when the convoy of the Lagos State delegates arrived the centre that Saturday morning. The Abuja weather was far from being friendly as the sun arrogantly stayed glued high up and its scorching rays fell brilliantly on the skin, leaving an unfriendly warmth in its wake.
We all went through the screening process at the gate and entrance to the hall. The posters and billboards of the four contestants for the presidential post littered a greater part of the hall’s frontage. Funke Fadugba’s poster was the first to assault our eyes as it was strategically placed to the right, followed by that of Muhammed Garuba. Next to
His; was Ndagene Aku’s. Aku, incidentally is the immediate past president of NUJ whose tenure is just elapsing and the last to the left was Wahaab Oba’s.
Inquisitively, I noticed that with the way the posters were arranged, there seemed to be a contention between the four main contestants, most especially between Garuba, Aku and Oba. Wherever there was a Wahaab Oba’s poster there was bound to be that of Aku or that of Garuba. It was glaring the supporters of each camp tried as much as possible to out one another in their aggressive campaign for their candidates. In fact, supporters could be easily identified through the campaign T-Shirts they adorned in a show of solidarity for their candidate.
By the time we finally scaled through the somewhat rigorous screening process, the event had already gone half-way. However, the various recognition and protocols, characteristic of events of this nature were skipped in the spirit of re-branding the new Nigeria which was ‘okayed’ by everyone as the programme was not delayed unnecessarily.
That afternoon, I could tell from the look on the faces of everyone in that large hall that Adams Oshiomhole struck a cord in the minds of all present and his admonition had a positive impact on them because this later affected the peoples’ reaction to the outturn of events later that evening.
After Oshiomhole’s speech, we all became restless as we eagerly looked forward to the elections. Shortly after the various speeches, we went for lunch and were soon called back for the Business Meeting.
While launching was going on, a group of people from the Eastern part of the country protested the re-election of Ndagene Aku as NUJ president with placards bearing negative descriptions of his person.
As I watched the group from a distance, I was scared stiff and prayed quietly no untoward thing should happen between these rivals. Indeed, the atmosphere was tense that afternoon, and from the look of things, and what was generally said of Ndagene, there was this palpable fear that he was not ready to relinquish power.
Before long, the Business Meeting began in earnest but the president was no where to be found. The whole hall had to wait for several minutes if not hours for Ndagene. Since he failed to show up, someone walked up to the podium to suggest that in his absence, the deputy president should take his place as stated by the NUJ constitution. But interestingly, even the deputy president was no where to be found--- he was said to be praying at a mosque somewhere. It was at this point, that most people went outside the hall to purchase a copy of the NUJ Constitution. In fact, a group from Benin who sat in front of us were raising tantrums at the top of their voices against Ndagene whom they claim to “know quite well.” After a long wait, the deputy president surfaced and the whole hall shouted for joy. You could see it wasn’t so much for their love for him but the fact that “the end has finally come for Ndagene.” Alreading all over the venue surrounding, there were posters screaming the delegates’ distaste for the Ndagene led administration. Several allegations bordering on misappropriation of fund and embezzlement were leveled against him.
But in a dramatic twist, soon Ndagene re-surfaced from nowhere and when he spoke, he urged that the accreditation should be done before the dissolution of his executive. Naturally, a resounding “no” from the audience rent the air in stiff opposition to his proposal. This led him to another round of delays in the name of “consultation” with his colleagues on the high table, unmindful of the sea of heads that was eagerly waiting.
Eventually he gave in and the motion for the dissolution of his executive was moved. “Would anyone like to move a motion for the extension of my tenure?” he asked jokingly. But again, he met a stoned faced audience that was obviously not willing to have him remain on that seat for a second longer. It was at this point that I was fully convinced that Ndagene was indeed power drunk.
What I found saddening later that evening was the allegation that the delegate lists sent in from the various councils were fraudulently altered which made it impossible for the delegates to cast their votes. For instance, the chairman of the Osun State Council said his list was cut down from 31 to 14 which was incredible if proven to be true!
If the NUJ could go this low and do this, then what message do we as journalists have to preach to a society for which we are its watchdog? It was just a waste of resources convening such a large number of people from different parts of the country without the elections holding as it was suspended.
Sure, it’s really sad that we have no one to tell our own story while we criticise others for their misdemeanor.
