Delta NUJ Info chapel sacks chairman
The chairman, Delta state Ministry of Information chapel of the NUJ, Mr Johnson Ebigide, has been removed from office.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the state council of the union, Mrs Stella Macaulay, said that Ebigide's removal was sequel to a petition against him to the Zone ``F'' of the union.
Some members of the chapel had petitioned the zone alleging that Ebigide is not qualified to lead the chapel since he did not possess the relevant professional qualification.
The NUJ constitution provides that to qualify for membership, a person shall possess at least, a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication.
It also provides that in the alternative, such a person shall possess a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) or a master's degree in Mass Communication.
The petition also stated that he was not paying check-off dues to the NUJ because he belonged to the Senior Staff Association, Delta state branch.
Nullifying Ebigide's election as the chairman, Zone "F" directed the state council to organize a fresh election into the vacant chairmanship position.
Meanwhile, the vice chairman of the chapel has been directed to take charge of the affairs of the chapel, pending the election of a new chairman.
According to him, prior to the primaries, World Igbo Congress developed criteria for the endorsement of presidential aspirants of Igbo extraction which were presented to the congress Board of Directors for review with recommendations.
He said that after carefully reviewing the political experience, leadership and other relevant qualifications, the congress decided that Kalu, the presidential candidate of Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), met all the stated criteria and resolved to endorse him.
However, Kalu was the only governor of Igbo extraction in attendance, while Chief Mbazulike Amechi from Anambra state was the only prominent Igboman outside Abia state in attendance.
Kalu in the event which turned out to be a campaign forum said that he became interested in the apex position because other ethnic groups in the country had their shot at presidency, except the Igbos.
He said that Yoruba had ruled, Hausa had ruled and it is always crisis whenever it was the turn of Igbos.
He said that he had been standing against injustice and fighting the cause of Igbo which had led to the destruction of his businesses by the present administration.
Kalu said that he had the prerequisite and pedigree to rule the country effectively if elected president.
``I have taken care of Abia state and myself positively and have the capacity to rule the country,'' he said.
He said that he would never fear anybody or succumb to threats from any quarter on matters of true constitutional democracy which gives freedom of speech.
He promised to restructure the energy sector within 24 months if elected and also restore the rule of law which, he said, had been fully abused by those in authority.
Chief Raph Obioha, the presidential candidate of Justice Party, said that he stepped down for Kalu because he found him the most qualified in the presidential race of Igbo extraction.
He urged Igbos to ensure they registered to give Kalu their votes.