Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, has since assumption of office walked the talk in the area of repositioning the council with the POWER TEAM mandate.
During the campaigns, he and his team toured the nook and cranny of the State with the promise of entrenching Professionalism, Openness, Welfare, Engagement and Resourcefulness encapsulated into POWER.
Unlike some leaders, Oyowe, a career professional journalist, hit the ground running with the setting up and the inauguration of the Union’s Veterans/Elders Forum (VEF).
The VEF followed the nomination and subsequent announcement of two distinguished Ex-Officios, elder Emanuel Ekebe, Isoko Chapel and Comrade Eugene Ndidi, Grassroots Observer Chapel to join the State Working Committee.
The Oyowe-led NUJ took a very bold step with the candidature of Comrade Mrs. Stella Macaulay, for the position of Vice President, Zone F, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), a position, she won gallantly, thereby for the first time, Delta NUJ produced both National Secretary, Comrade Eunice Emeyazie and our own Mrs. Macaulay.
Not one to be labelled as a slow starter or to wait to be pushed around as if he was unprepared for leadership, Oyowe initiated visits to key selected performing local government Chairmen.
First point of call was Sapele, the administrative headquarters of Sapele local government area of the State where he and his untiring team met with the Council chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan.
At the meeting, Oyowe, who would not call black, while as the usual practice of puppets who always go for the Biblical “crumbs that falls from the masters table”, described the performance of the chairman, as landmark and impressive.
The train equally stormed Ethiope West Council where he thumped up for the chairman, Rt. Hon. Oghenedoro Nelson Owoso, on youth development, environmental sanitation and accorded him as a trailblazer in youth skills acquisition and development.
At Isoko south local government area, Comrade Oyowe, lauded the development strides of Rt. Hon. Victor Asasa’s administration particularly for lighting up all communities in the area.
During these visits, Comrade Oyowe explained that his team is visiting councils on-the-spot- assessment to ascertain media reports of outstanding performance as part of the NUJ constitutional role as watchdog and in accordance with public governance probity accountability.
Also armed, not going cap in hand begging, Comrade Oyowe led a top delegation of the Union elders to the State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, with a call for the appointment of Commissioner for Information, which has been done. Giving regards to journalists, partnership with journalists, building of journalists village and journalists’ Independence.
Similarly, the NUJ boss alongside his ebullient team had visited the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, where he charged him to liaise with the executive to forestall possible breach in the peace and security of the State.
The call was due to fears currently being nursed by Deltans following what he described as the rising spate of insecurity across various states in the country.
The fears is being heightened as some “unknown” persons who could hardly be identified by residents are already infiltrating into the State.
In same vein, Comrade Oyowe has urged the Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Corps Commandant Udueme Eshiet, to remove all obstructions posing threat to lives and property on the highways.
The visit was aimed at fostering synergy between the union and FRSC , while bringing the concerns of the motoring public to the commandant’s notice.
In another development, Comrade Oyowe has also urged the Immigration Service to intensify efforts in regularly raiding hot spots to fish out illegal immigrants, also called on the Service to collaborate with other sister agencies such as NIMC, NAPTIP for proper profiling of foreigners to help check the rate of crimes in the state.
He commended the Comptroller of Immigration Service, Delta State Command, Emmanuel Akinrinsola, for the reforms in the Immigration Service in the area of digitization of passport processing, and expressed the hope that passport applicants would provide the right information.
Comrade Oyowe, had also expressed worries over the number of people without residency permit particularly in the State capital when he stormed 63 Brigade headquarters under the watch of Brigadier General Vitus Unachukwu.
And most recently, Comrade Oyowe led a delegation to the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, where he informed him that the NUJ is keenly interested in moving the state forward with the MORE Agenda.
No doubt, Oyowe, with the move, has rebranded NUJ in the minds of those that has little or no iota of honour and respect for a professional body recognized by the constitution.
The leadership of the Union had earlier warned that it would no longer tolerate sheer professional misdemeanour – misguided partisan postures, unverified insinuations/statements, unhealthy arguments, abuses, insults, offensive innuendos and any form of anti-union expressions.
To mark the exco’s 100 days in office, again, like the Biblical king Solomon who would rather ask of wisdom in place of riches/wealth, Oyowe, approached God in thanksgiving for a well deserved victory at the October 18th 2023, election for giving them a landslide victory.
The Church thanksgiving culminated in the flagg-off of the construction of a landmark foundation of six lock up shops at the premises of the Press Center, the first of its kind.
The Union’s Toyota Corolla car, that was once ridden with “coat of many colours”, now wears a new look that befits it after it was refurbished.
This is in line with the Chairman’s POWER Agenda blueprint which has infrastructural maintenance/ advancement, entrepreneurial and economic development as part of its focal points.
With Professionalism, Opennesss, Welfare, Engagement and Resourcefulness (POWER) mantra and his visionary leadership trail, Comrade Oyowe, is on a path towards transforming Delta NUJ into a thriving economic hub with improved infrastructure and a higher quality of life for its members.
In addition to the meritorious dividends of democracy that he continues to deliver to registered journalists, we can proudly say that he is a promise keeper.
Picture Supplied by LEAPTV
