Two Days To Election, Rivers NUJ Disowns Media Group

Edith CHUKU

The Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Rivers State Council, has charged members of the public to be wary of groups masquerading as media organisations in the state.

NUJ gave this charge while declaring that it has disowned a group it described as an amorphous body.

This is coming exactly two days to the election of new executives of the union, following the end of tenure of the Stanley Job Stanley led excos.

In a statement on Monday by NUJ chairman, Stanley Job Stanley and secretary, Ike Wigodo, the union said it was unaware of such media organisation or chapel known as Port Harcourt Media Organisation.

It then called on the Rivers State Police Command to arrest the leader of the group, Bright Nnokam, for alleged impersonation.

The Union also urged political office holders in the state, especially local government council chairmen to always use professionals as their press officers to avoid unnecessary backlash.

NUJ noted that the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Guilds of Editors are the only recognised professional bodies affiliated with NUJ and journalism in the country.

“This statement was informed by recent media reports that a member of the House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in Rivers State, Hon. Blessing Chigeru Amadi, recently met with the said Port Harcourt Media Organisation for a media briefing.

“For the umpteenth time, we want to advise Hon. Blessing Chigeru Amadi to desist from patronising quacks who masquerade as journalists in the State.”