Longest Serving Ex-Chairman of NUJ Presents Nomination Form to Council Chairman as Latter Calls on Government Support

Abeokuta - By Our REPORTER

Published, Thursday, September 19, 2024

THE FORMER STATE Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ogun State, recognised as the longest-serving chairman, formally presented his nomination form to the current State Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, at the Henry Townsend (Legacy) building on Wednesday.

Comrade Oluwole Jonathan Sokunbi, who served as State Information  Chairman, two terms State Secretary and 2-term State Chairman informed Comrade Olanrewaju that he is seeking the position of Deputy National President of the NUJ in Abuja.

Comrade Olanrewaju expressed his excitement about presenting a deserving candidate for a national position for the first time in the 62-year history of the NUJ in Nigeria. NUJ was founded in 1962 at the Federal Ministry of Information, Lagos, then the capital of Nigeria.

"This is the first time a journalism practitioner from Ogun State NUJ will vie for an executive position at the national level. While others may have been National Presidents, they did not practice in Ogun State," he noted.

"He added that if print media journalists own the NUJ, Comrade Wole Sokunbi has a strong background as a cub reporter at the now-defunct Daily Sketch and Community Magnet. And if government media journalists are regarded as owning the NUJ, my leader is a senior journalist in that sector."

Olanrewaju (also known as Wale Centrism) urged the Ogun State government, stakeholders, and other patriots to support Comrade Sokunbi (also known as Ataba) to secure his election and bring home the trophy for the Ogun State NUJ Council.

He stated, "Comrade Sokunbi, my legacy project, has greatly contributed to both the local and national growth of the NUJ. He has made a positive impact across Zone B (Southwest) of the NUJ and Nigeria, aiding the successes of the current NUJ Council Chairmen across Southwest, including my own rise to State Chairman."

"It's pay time. I call on my fellow Chairmen across  Nigeria, particularly, Southwest to rally around Ataba (Wole Sokunbi)," Chairman Olanrewaju concluded.

Chairman Olanrewaju pledged to lead Sokunbi's campaign across all 36 states and Abuja to ensure Sokunbi becomes the first Deputy National President from Ogun Council.

The 8th Triennial National Delegates Conference is scheduled for November 28, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State, Southeast Nigeria.