Bayelsa NUJ Election: Commissioner charges impending losers to embrace spirit of sportsmanship * Ogio pledges to carry all members along when elected

 By Inegbagha Majesty

Ahead of the forthcoming November 16 Bayelsa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) election, impending losers have been charged to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and work   together with the winners to move the union forward.

Hon Alfred Belemote

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Community Development, Hon Alfred Belemote gave the charge on Thursday at Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Yenagoa, while speaking as chairman of the occasion at the Grand Finale of Team Peace Campaign and formal unveiling of its standard bearers for the NUJ election.

The Honourable Commissioner who called for peaceful conduct of the election within the tenet provided by the union constitution, also noted that in every election there must be a winner or loser.

He said the state under the able leadership of governor Douye Diri has enjoy relative peace, and stressed the need for the members of the fourth estate of the realm to shun acts inimical to the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

He lauded the harmonious relationship between the state government and the members of fourth estate, saying that NUJ is well coordinated and tutored.

In her goodwill message, the General Manager of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Yenagoa, Mrs Dauzu Whyte enjoined winners of Saturday's NUJ election to be magnanimous in victory by carrying losers along to make them feel happy.

Mrs Dauzu Whyte

She reminded that in every competition winning team must emerge, and advised those that would lose to embrace spirit of sportsmanship.

"Today as we prepare for Saturday's election, please, I want you to have this at the back of your mind. A winning team must emerge or there must be a winner. In every competition we expect that there must be a winner. Let us embrace this election with the spirit of sportsmanship, “she stated.

In his speech, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi Clement, Chairmanship Candidate for the forthcoming Saturday's November 16 NUJ election, has promised to run all-inclusive administration that would foster peace, unity and welfare of members and the development of the union in the interest of all when elected.

Comrade Ogio Ipigansi Clement, Chairmanship Candidate.

 According to him, his administration would accord welfare of its members and training programmes a pride of place.

Ogio, a renowned pacesetter, added that with his wealth experience as a unionist, he would strengthen the bond of relationship between NUJ and the state government to enhance service delivery and effective dissemination of policies and programmes of the state government among others to promote good relationship between the government and the people.

Ogio also pledged to introduced six years’ development agenda for the union where all stakeholders will gather and deliberate the way forward of the union.

He expressed his determination to operate an open door policy that would involve and benefit all members of the union irrespective of their political leanings, stating that as members of indivisible union, NUJ politics should not be taking as a do or die affairs or winner takes all.

He appealed to those fanning embers of disunity, acrimony as well as those embarking on media campaign of blackmail and calumny to desist forthwith.

He stated that he has prepared to win the election peacefully and that was why he visited all the Chapels and sold his manifesto to the electorates and solicits for their votes.

He maintained that with his wealth of experience in union politics he never criticizes anybody.

He noted that he has the overwhelming support to win the election, saying that God would grant the enabling peaceful atmosphere during and after the election.

Ogio heartily commended the members of the various NUJ Chapels for large turnout and urged them to demonstrate the kind overwhelming support by voting for him and all the candidates of Team Peace during the election.

In his remarks, the outgoing state chairman of NUJ, Comrade N. Samuel enjoined the incoming leadership of the union to avoid his mistakes but should embrace his achievements.

Earlier, the Director General of Team Peace 2024 Campaign organization, Chief Ifeaziba Osain while unveiling the flagbearers of Team Peace 2024  for November 16, Saturday's NUJ election, restated the commitment of Comrade Ogio Ipigansi Clement and all candidates under his slate when elected to operate an open door policy that would involve all members of NUJ, in the formulation and implementation of its policy and programmes for the betterment and the interest of all.

Chief Ifeaziba Osain

 He used the forum to enjoined the NUJ members to come to the NUJ Press Centre on Saturday by 8.00am to cast their votes for Comrade Ogio Ipigansi Clement for Chairman and the other Candidates for the NUJ election under Team Peace. They are Inebaraton Preye-For Vice Chairman, Inaingo Tobin-West for Secretary, Zitimiyola Ebinimi for Treasurer, Theophilus Agidee for Financial Secretary, Amgbare Ekaunkumo for Auditor and Abassa Tare Solomon for Assistant Secretary.

Journalists and dignitaries from all walks of life turned out in large number during the grand finale of Team Peace Campaigns held at Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Azikoro Road, Ekeki, Yenagoa on Thursday.