Osun NUJ Suspends Members for Misconduct, Warns OSBC Board Chairman

The crisis rocking Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) took a new dimension on Thursday as the council, through an emergency congress, suspended three of its members indefinitely for alleged misconduct.

The suspended members are: Acting Chairman of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) chapel, Mrs Ojuolape Ukeme-Bassy, Chairman, Local Government Information Chapel, Mr Gboyega Aderinwale and the Secretary of Federated Chapel, Mr Kehinde Kolawole.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the congress, the three members were suspended for embarrassing the union; misleading the public as against the ethics of Journalism and invasion of the council secretariat, thus dragging the integrity of the union to the mud.

The congress presided over by the Vice Chairman of the Council, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji also warned the Chairman of the OSBC Board of Directors, Mr Kola Akanji from using his office to promote division among members of the union.

Signed by the Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee and Secretary, Messrs Kazeem Muhammed and Abiodun Adeoye respective, the communiqué reads: “That the congress expressed concern over the emerging controversies in the Osun NUJ council and the closure of the Council’s secretariat prompted by the invasion of a purported caretaker committee.

“That the congress rejects in totality, the constitution of Caretaker Committee, as it is against the constitution of NUJ and intended to promote crisis in the union. “That all the purported members of the committee namely (I) Ojuolape Ukeme Bassy (ii) Gboyega Aderinwale and (iii) Kehinde Kolawole be suspended indefinitely for embarrassing the union; misleading the public as against the ethics of Journalism and invasion of the council secretariat, thus dragging the integrity of the union to the mud. This should be communicated to the National Secretariat and all concerned authorities.

“That the officers of the union, whose election was not in contention, i.e the Vice Chairman, Kehinde Ayantunji; the Treasurer, Adebisi Alo; the Assistant Secretary, Olabode Awe and the Internal Auditor, Olusola Egbodofo, should take charge of the administration of the council in accordance with Article 5D (ii) and F1(h) of the NUJ Constitution. And that the congress stands by the February 11, 2016 election pending the determination of the case before the Industrial Court, Ibadan.

“That the Interim Chairman of the OSBC Board of Directors, Mr Kola Akanji, who has been actively fuelling the unnecessary crisis for personal difference between him and Mr Biodun Olalere, by using the instrument of his office negatively in the matter, should be written a warning letter to desist from further promoting division among union members.

“That the council needs the intervention of the Veterans and other stakeholders of the deliberate crisis precipitated and been sustained by the National President and the National Vice President “B Zone” in the Osun State Council of the union.”