The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ in Kogi State, Momohjimoh Adeiza has tasked practising journalists to hold those in authority accountable through their reportage.
Adeiza also called on political players to work out a power-sharing modality in the state, as agreed by their founding fathers.
Adeiza’s call was made in a farewell speech during an election that saw Ademu Seidu emerge as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi State Council.
Seidu, a staff of the Kogi State Ministry of Information, was elected on Wednesday, at the union’s triennial delegate conference in Lokoja.
The new Chairman took over from Momohjimoh Adeiza of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, after he completed six years in office.
Other NUJ excos elected in Kogi State are Ibrahim Obansa, Vice Chairman, Ayindero-Oyenibi Olusegun, Secretary, Ali Josephine Unekwu, Auditor, Abdulsalam Abubakar Mohammed, Financial Secretary, Sunny Adebuja, Treasurer, and Atuluku Samuel, Assistant Secretary.
“On the just concluded Kogi State Governorship election, Adeiza said, ” The much talked about Kogi State Governorship election of November 11 has come and gone but it leaves some dust flying in its trail. There is a reason for this. We as a people have not been able to divest ourselves of primordial loyalty to our different ethnic identities. Instead of politics of unity, politics of peace, progress and prosperity.
“We play politics of disunity as we hurl unprintable and unhearable abuses, forgetting the fact that as one people bound by common political destiny which has its roots first in Kwararafa kingdom and later in Kabba province, an insult of one is an insult on the other.
“Therefore, I would like to call on our political players to come together and work out a power-sharing modality in the state. For me, rotation governorship as agreed upon by our founding fathers is the way to go.
“It is not a strange formula and it is not peculiar to us. Rotational government has been thriving in Niger State among a few other states. of the federation. And it is working for them. Why do we not take the cue from states where rotational governorship has worked? It brings peace. It buries mutual hatred. It nurtures bonding and healthy competitiveness resulting in common splendour for all of us.
“Kogi politicians please, call the stakeholders to a round table discussion on rotational governorship. It is what is fair, just and equitable”.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman Comrade Ademu Seidu promised to improve welfare, and capacity building for all journalists in Kogi State.