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The Government of Imo State has moved against the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ),ImoStatechapter, Mr Innocent Igwe, by posting him toAba,AbiaState.
According to information available to Imo Trumpeta, Mr Igwe, who is under the employment ofImoState, as a staff of Imo Broadcasting Corporation IBC, has been posted to itsAba commercial office inAbiaState.
Mr Igwe, who was elected NUJ chairman a few months ago, has been having a running battle withImoStategovernment about a week ago.
Trouble started for Mr Igwe, during the May 29, (Democracy Day) celebration and one – year in office of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that during the celebration, Journalists in Imo state had decided to boycott the Governor’s functions, because of what the described as “unfriendly nature to pressmen” by the Okorocha government.
Innocent Igwe, though a staff of government owned IBC, had no alternative than to comply with the general decision of the journalist, whose leader he is.
However, sensing that journalists have decided to boycott its activities, government adopted divide – and – rule method by calling the various chapels of the journalists individually without the NUJ Council knowing.
While other chapels adhered to NUJ instruction and stayed away, the Correspondent chapel led by Chief Chidi Nkwopara of Vanguard Newspaper honoured the invitation, therefore dividing the NUJ.
In the end, government felt piqued that a staff under the IBC, controlled by the Ministry of Information, Mr Innocent Igwe, was leading the “rebellion”.
Following this development, Igwe was marked for sack, until other labour leaders intervened and he was then given a “safe – landing” with the posting toAba,AbiaState.
Meanwhile, Journalists inImoStatehave carpeted Nkwopara for disobeying the NUJ chairman’s instruction, which caused the problem in the first place.
“Nkwopara should be sanctioned for disobeying the chairman. He caused the chairman’s woes” A journalist told Imo Trumpeta.
However, sources said the latest development may pit Imo government against journalists in the state.
