Crisis has rock Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zamfara state Council following the emergence of two factional chairmen.
The fracas began when some aggrieved members of the chapel summoned for an emergency meeting following an alleged diversion of some money belonging to the chapel members,
The emergency meeting led to the instant removal of of the Chairman Umar Mohammed Maradun and his instant replacement with Salisu Zakari Maradun.
In a statement signed by one Sani Mohammed Sani on behalf of the Congress members reads:
“The decision for the reshufflement was reached at the end of an emergency congress meeting, strictly based on the unanimous resolve by majority of its members to further reinforce the spirit of professionalism and strengthen the Press/government efforts in building and upgrading the social and economic status of the citizens.
The congress has also used the opportunity to fill the gaps of some elective offices that have remained vacant since the coming in of the existing exco.
The new leadership composition now comprises of Mallam Salisu Zakari Maradun of The Authority News Paper as chairman, Mallam Sani Haruna Dutsen-ma of Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN) as vice chairman, and Mallam Bala Abubakar of Triumph Newspapers as assistant Secretary.
Others include Mallam Babangida Ibrahim of AIT as assistant Treasurer, Mallam Ibrahim Sidi Muhammad of the New Telegraph newspaper as Auditor, while Mallam Ibrahim Ahmed Gada of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Mallam Hussaini Baba of Leadership Hausa have retained their positions as Secretary and financial secretary respectively.
But in a sharp reaction, the alleged suspended chairman, Umar Mohammed Maradun in a statement he personally signed said, “the meeting did not meet the laid down procedures of the NUJ and therefore all purported decisions taken during the said meeting are null and void.”
“The said meeting went far by saying they reshuffled an elected executive members of Correspondents Chapel, an which is not only illegal but lacks credence.”
“The Executive calls on the members of the chapel to disregard all insinuations arising from the said meeting.”
“The Executive remain resolute in upholding and working for the overall interest of the chapel and the union as a whole.”
In a statement, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Zamfara state Council has through its secretary, Abubakar Ahmad the council has set up a three man committee to find out issues that led to the problem, resolve or come up with amicable solution so that the chapel and its members can move forward. GGG
The secretary said that the committee is given five days within which to submit its report to the council.
