Soldiers, Police, DSS Invade Venue as C’River NUJ Elects Exco

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Soldiers, Police, DSS Invade Venue as C’River NUJ Elects Exco


Amidst tension and booming sounds of gunshots from the barrels of the guns of a combined team of military men, personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) and men of the Nigeria Police Force, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State chapter, on Monday elected a new executive to run the union’s affairs for the next three years.

Sections of 3rd Avenue, the location of the Ernest Etim Bassey NUJ Press Centre, venue of the election, were condoned off by the DSS and the police and the military, which backed out orders to motorists diverting vehicles to other routes.

Persons residing close to the NUJ Press Centre were prevented from gaining free access to their houses while the election lasted, perhaps due to the terrifying sounds of the gunshots.
Journalists considered not being in support of a candidate termed “government candidate” were physically manhandled by the soldiers and policeman, allegedly deployed on the orders of a state government appointee.
During the duration of the election which lasted for hours from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm, sounds of gunshots fired by the combined team of the military, the police and DSS were heard intermittently, forcing residents of the area to stay at home.
Those who contested the chairmanship position were Mr. Lawrence Mpama of Watchman Magazine, Florence Oluohu of Chronicle Newspapers and Mr. Victor Udu of the state Ministry of Information.
 
The election to seven of the offices conducted by Mr. James Uwem  and  Mr. Sam Egbala , a national trustee of the NUJ, declared Udu as winner against Mpama, and Oluohu who left the press centre when journalists were attacked.  
Other officers elected include Mr Oqua Etim (vice Chairman); Mr Oka Ibor (Secretary); Mr Benson Ezugwu (Assistant Secretary); Mrs Archibong Bassey (Treasurer); Mr Edem Edem (Financial Secretary) and Mrs Itam Offor (Internal Auditor).

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