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NAWOJ Committee Petitions IGP, DSS, FIDA, Others Over Failed Election Crisis

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
                                         Ruth Tene 

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Elected Caretaker Committee has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun;  Department of State Services (DSS) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) over growing crisis associated with failed election. 

News Rider reports that a copy of the petition was also copied to the CWC, President of NUJ, President of NLC, NCWS President, NLC Women Committee, Human Rights Commission, Minister of Women Affairs, and Chairman of NUJ, FCT Council. 

Recall that over 100 members of NAWOJ staged a peaceful protest on Saturday, January 20, 2023 at the FCT Secretariat of NUJ in Utako, Abuja, the proposed venue for the election. 

The protest marred the scheduled election for the executive members of FCT chapter of NAWOJ, over what the journalists described as fraud and irregularities in the electoral process. 

News Rider had reported that the protesting female journalists querried the rationale behind the last-minute changes on the use of NUJ Identity Card for accreditation and voting, instead of the identity cards of media organisations, which was agreed to be used for the same purpose. 

They equally lamented that the same rule was not applicable during the NAWOJ National Delegates’ Election, adding that the identity cards of media organisations remained the valid criteria for voting and not the NUJ Identity card. 

But the Secretary of the committee, Ruth Tene, while responding to a letter purportedly written by the National Secretary of NAWOJ, Wasilah Ladan and copied to the police, DSS and others, frowned at the flagrant abuse of power by the NAWOJ National Secretariat. 

In the letter titled: "Re: NAWOJ Caretaker Committee", and dated January 24, 2024, Tene, a member of the Correspondent Chapel wondered why an internal issue involving members of the noble association was not resolved by the leadership of the association instead of resorting to public criticism. 

Tene, who is also the Publisher of EarthNews Nigeria said: "The fact that the leadership of the association chose to resort to name calling of senior and respected members, who had served the interests of the association,  including participating in the recently concluded national election that brought the current leadership of the association to power, and publicly  disseminate an internal matter which should have been peacefully resolved by the leadership of the association, is one we all should be worried about.

"Prior to this unfortunate letter which is a total perversion of the NUJ constitution which guides our association/union and which we must strive to protect ill-regard of personal  interests, the letter seems like an intentional effort by some members to muffle the voices of dissenting members, while considering the association\union a personal property that could be manipulated to protect selfish interests.

Tene prayed that the national leadership of NAWOJ should do the needful by urgently calling for congress or for a meeting of the caretaker committee(s) for peaceful negotiations/resolutions between the members. 

Also, that rather than the selective interpretation of the NUJ constitution as regards the noble association, the NUJ constitution should be set aside, and NAWOJ By-Law should be created for the benefit of the association.

Other prayers are: "That the Zone D VP, Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche be excused from supervising the FCT NAWOJ elections in fairness to all contestants

"That Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche be removed as an admin of the FCT NAWOJ platform except if she is on the platform of all states in Zone D. 

"That in respect to the association/union which we all strive to protect, we must learn to behave as professionals and not as desperate power grabbers all about self. 

"That Madam Chairperson of NAWOJ  National Office, Aisha Ibrahim should give a date to either meet with members or call for congress as soon as possible. 

"That the VP of Zone D, Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche must write a letter of apology to the named members, dissociating herself from any danger that may arise from this politics of folly and publish same in the Abuja Inquirer as well as any other place their statement has been sent.

"That while we appreciate the leadership of NAWOJ/NUJ, we must seek at all times to protect the superiority of our association/union as against self, knowing that it is for the good of all."

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