By Jude Atupulazi
The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Anambra State says its decision to pull out from the parent body in the state is due to the high handedness of the State Chairman of NUJ, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu.
The Correspondents’ Chapel, in a communique it released on Wednesday, signed by David Eleke (Chairman); Emma Elekwa (Secretary); Nwanosike Onu, Tony Okafor, Obinna Unaeze, and unanimously endorsed by all the members, announced its decision to disassociate itself from the State Council, citing high-handedness and threats to life by the council’s chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu.
According to the communique issued after their June Congress, the Chapel unanimously endorsed the leadership of Chief Chuks Ilozue and his Executive Committee, while pledging their loyalty to the national body of the NUJ.
The Chapel cited the need to protect members from what they described as a “draconian, inhumane and threat-infested environment” within the council as the reason for their decision.
According to the communique, the dispute also involved a bus donated to the Chapel by the Anambra State Government under former Gov Willie Obiano, which, it said, Odogwu allegedly sought to assign to his sister-in-law, Mrs Tochukwu Ifejika, Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Anambra State Chapter.
The Chapel declared that the bus would continue to be used for its intended purpose and would not be surrendered to Odogwu or anyone else.
The latest stance of the Correspondents has further worsened relations between them and the State Council of the NUJ following a lingering face-off between the two, triggered by allegations of financial misconduct against the State NUJ Exco.
