By Magnus Effiong
The Governor of Cross River state, Professor Ben Ayade, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Eteng William and many others have congratulated the newly elected Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State, Comrade Nsa Gill of the Nation newspaper, for emerging victorious in the State Council elections.
Comrade Nsa, on Saturday, defeated his closest opponent, Comrade Oka Ibor of the Nigerian Chronicle, scoring 76 votes to Mr Ibor’s 50.
In a congratulatory message signed by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, the Governor said “I convey my hearty and warm felicitations to you on your election as the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Cross River state Chapter.
“Your qualification for the exalted office was never in doubt. Given your sterling performance in the print media sector of the industry and your impeccable contributions to its growth, I’m not surprised that your colleagues in the Cross River chapter of the union found you worthy to lead them.”
Similarly, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Williams, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Hope Obeten, said Comrade Gill’s emergence was “a reflection of the choice of journalists and media professionals across the different chapels in the state.”
He described Comrade Gill as a thorough-bred journalist, who has distinguished himself in the pen profession, and therefore expressed confidence that Mr Gill would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the administration of the NUJ in the state.
In her goodwill message, Chairman of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Umo Bassey Edet, said Gill won because he had always held the banner of balance, fairness, and objectivity.
She urged him to unite the greatly polarized NUJ and mobilise members of the union to meet their functions of providing information, enlightenment, entertainment, and surveillance to the larger society.
Others who emerged together with Comrade Gill to lead the State Council were Florence Kanu, Vice Chairman; Solomon Azu, Secretary; Kingsley Agim, Assistant Secretary; Achiene Adams Treasurer and Archibong Bassey as Financial Secretary.
The election was supervised by Comrade Opaka Dokubo, NUJ Vice President, Zone F, while Barr Egerton Onah swore in the new State Executive Committee members.