NUJ Calls For Demilitarization of South East

ThankGod Emeh

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Zone C (South East) has called on President Bola Tinubu in collaboration with the South Eastern governors to put an end to the militarization of the zone by dismantling most of the checkpoints in the zone as commuters pass through humiliations and oppressions daily in the hands of the security operatives.

The members of the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) comprising Chairmen and Secretaries from the five state Councils in South East and all the National Officers of NUJ including NAWOJ from the Zone, made the call at a media summit held at Awka, Anambra state recently.

The ZEC members who deliberated on issues affecting the Union and the Zone, however commended South East Governors for their efforts to curb the menace of insecurity in the Zone, while urging them to intensify measures to return the Zone as the most peaceful and investor-friendly Zone in Nigeria.
They also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Government to come up with workable solutions to the stifling economic conditions of Nigerian citizens.

The NUJ Zonal leaders while frowning at the damages caused by the militarization of South East,  urged Governors from the zone to “work in collaboration and create a conducive environment for investors to grow the economy of the Zone” as they tasked South East Business men/women and Investors to “imbibe the ‘Aku ruo ulo’ philosophy by investing in the Zone in order to help create jobs for the teeming youths that are graduating from the various higher institutions across the Zone”

“ZEC frowned at the militarization of the entire South East Zone by military and paramilitary personnel. Members said it is embarrassing to see Police, NSCDC and army checkpoints within one kilometer intervals along the Federal and State roads in the zone as if there is a raging war in the Zone”

In the foregoing, according to a  communique signed by the Vice President of NUJ South East Zone C, Emmanuel Ifesinachi and Zonal Secretary, Comrade Ezenwa Adiuku, the Zonal Executive Committee members urged security personnel to always put up a human face in all dealings with the general public, while extolling NUJ National National President, Dr Chris Isiguzo for his visionary leadership which has shaped the union better than he met it alongside his National officers.

“ZEC called on army and police authorities at the Federal level to dismantle most of these checkpoints as many commuters pass through humiliations and oppressions daily in the hands of the security personnel, which are reasons that investors are afraid to invest in the Zone”

“ZEC members commended the NUJ National President, Chief Dr Chris Isiguzo, MFR for his sterling leadership qualities which have repositioned the Union as a professional body in Nigeria.

“ZEC members congratulated Achike Chude and Tita Onyebuchi Nze who are from the Zone, on their emergence as National Secretary and National Assistant Secretary for the NUJ respectively. They expressed confidence that they will not disappoint the Union and Zone C.

“ZEC equally expressed satisfaction with the leadership of the NUJ in Zone C (South East) and unanimously endorsed Comrade (Sir) Emmanuel Ifesinachi and Comrade Ezenwa Adiuku for another term in office as Zonal Vice President and Zonal Secretary respectively”, the communique concluded