We Will Not Succumb To Your Unfounded Allegations Of Sabotage – Consolidated Chapel Tells Ogun NUJ

The Consolidated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun state council has reacted to the allegation leveled against it by the council.
The council had, in a communique described some of the consolidated chapel members as unqualified, untrained, ‘tout’ and fake.
The chapel however, in a communique issued after an emmergency meeting at its secretariat in Abeokuta on Wednesday, described such as a delibtate attempt to tarnish its image and that of its members.
The meeting was presided over by the Chapel chairman, Comrade Olusegun Olukoga, with full members in attendance.
The communique reads “The Chapel also felicitate with all federal and state lawmakers for their one year in office and called for more cooperation and collaborative efforts towards development and good governance.
“However, the unanimous resolutions of members of the Chapel on issues relating to the Council include the following:
- The Chapel frowned at immaturity of the council leadership, speaking from both sides of the mouth and alleging the chapel of sabotage during its organized event with National Assembly members.
- The Chapel condemned the divide and rule strategy used by the council leadership in an attempt to cause disunity and mistrust among members of the chapel by sending separate invitations to selected chapel members despite general notification for NUJ members to the said event
- Despite some elders’ intervention and call for a meeting between the council leadership and concern parties which include Consolidated and Correspondents chapels to clarify the issue raised by the chairman against the chapel members, the council failed to do so, while the council chairman went on tarnishing the image of Consolidated Chapel and its members at every opportunity, even while giving “state of the council update” at Tuesday’s Information chapel’s congress. Hence, the chapel condemned that petty approach.
- Chapel frowned at blackmail as contained in the communique issued at the end of last week state Congress on qualifications, describing some of its members as unqualified, untrained, ‘tout’ and fake; the chapel dares the council leadership to conclude the screening process as members of the chapel are not fake journalists but eminently qualified practicing journalists with approval and recognitions from established media houses.
- The Chapel frowned at the outburst of the council chairman, Comrade Wale Olarenwaju, which we have on tape at the last state congress threatening to de-chapelize the Chapel; a threat the Congress consider as empty and futile.
- Consolidated Chapel remains one indivisible entity, comprising reputable, practising field journalists with track records; and will not succumb to unfounded allegations of sabotage as stated in the last state congress communique.
- As broadcast journalists practising in Ogun state, the Chapel refused to be intimidated, used, coerced in the face of continuous stigmatization, and undermining our professional contributions, strength and credibility.
Conclusively, members of the Chapel remain committed to practising journalism professionally and serving our organizations and the public with utmost integrity. The Congress appreciates members of the Chapel for maintaining dignity and composure in the face of oppression and intimidation.