Uwadiegwu Ahumaraeze
The Imo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned what it described as a reckless and shameless attempt by the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) to undermine the union’s legitimate ownership of its Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri. In a strongly worded statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Precious Nwadike, and Head of the Press Center Management Committee, Comrade Austin Agwulonu, the NUJ dismissed as “satanic falsehoods” claims made by one faceless Hon. Ethelbert Nnanna at a press conference organized by the GII.
According to the NUJ, the allegations that the union’s Secretariat had been attacked by thugs and voluntarily handed over to the Imo State Government are baseless fabrications aimed at advancing a failed agenda of land grabbing. The journalists’ body recalled that the only incident of thuggery at the Secretariat occurred last year when, allegedly acting under the instructions of the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Declan Emeluumba, some individuals attempted to vandalize the property. That attempt, the union said, was resisted by genuine journalists and subsequently nullified by a competent court of law.
The statement stressed that at no time did the union hand over its Secretariat to the Imo State Government or any other body. It maintained that the property remains the lawful asset of Imo journalists, having been defended by the NUJ congress and protected by judicial pronouncements which nullified all attempts to sell or illegally transfer ownership. The union therefore described GII’s call for government takeover as evidence of a grand conspiracy to dispossess journalists of their heritage.
“The facts are clear: a criminal cabal, hiding under government influence, tried and failed to sell our complex for personal gain,” the NUJ declared, insisting that the conspirators had only resurrected their scheme under the cover of GII after the courts rendered their previous efforts null and void. The union further alleged that the land grabbers had already earmarked the property for sale at an agreed price of ₦400 million.
While rejecting GII’s description of the property as the “old NUJ Secretariat,” the journalists reaffirmed that the Port Harcourt Road complex remains one of the best in the Southeast and one of the most prestigious NUJ facilities in Nigeria. They insisted that the Secretariat is not for sale to anyone, not even to the highest bidder, and vowed to continue defending it against encroachment.
The NUJ also accused the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Declan Emeluumba, of masterminding the renewed attack on the union, alleging that he has consistently promoted anti-media activities and empowered fake journalists to weaken professional journalism in Imo State. They urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to ignore what they described as manipulative antics designed to tarnish his image and mislead the government into an illegality that would attract moral and political backlash.
Reaffirming their commitment to truth, fairness, and the rule of law, the Imo NUJ emphasized that it would continue to commend good governance when practiced and speak out against injustice. “We represent the authentic professional body of journalists in Imo State,” the statement concluded, “and we shall resist every attempt to drag our noble institution through the mud.”
