There was palpable crisis in the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Chapter following the desperate interference of government over candidates in the forthcoming election scheduled for September 29.
The candidates for the election ncludes incumbent Dr Qasim Akinreti, Adeleye Ajayi for Chairman, Mrs. Abiola Beckley for Vice Chairman, Alfred Odifa, Tunde Olalere and Raymond Tedunjaiye for Secretary, Philip Nwosu for Assistant Secretary, Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe for Treasurer, Innocent Anaba and Iyabo Wale-Eri for Financial Secretary and Isaac Ayodele for Internal Auditor.
However, information made available to journalists indicates that the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho has shown deep interference in the election by asking the incumbent Secretary, Alfred Odifa to withdraw from the race.
The Commissioner, it was learnt also asked Tunde Olalere to drop his ambition as the ministry will not be participating in the election, following pressure “from above.”
He told the duo who are employees of the state, to choose between withdrawing and keeping their jobs .
It was learnt that the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry had invited the candidates from the Ministry and broke the news to them, after the incumbent Chairman Dr Akinreti who was afraid of loosing the election, if members of the Information Ministry took part,, had visited several “powers that be” in Lagos to pressurise the Commissioner.
The Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary were not happy with developments, but told the candidates that their hands are tied and that they have pressure from a top politician in Lagos.
Investigation reveals that the incumbent and his associates had sent messages to the top politician to stop the incumbent secretary, who they said could scuttle the ambition of the top politician.
The withdrawal of Lagos State Ministry of Information in the Lagos NUJ election has thrown the union into deep crisis as many chapel are threatening to withdraw from the election, following interference from the state government.
It was learnt that NUJ Chairman who is a Deputy Director in the Voice of Nigeria, had been consulting different politicians in Lagos and interest group to step in and assist him.
It was learnt that he had earlier visited MC Oluomo, the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during the lockdown period to interact with him.
Journalists in Lagos are angry over these interference, especially as the chairman had told most of them that the election was a “do-or-die.
Dr. Akinreti had earlier accused the Permanent Secretary of supporting Odifa in the election.