By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has reaffirmed commitment of his administration to give journalists working in the state the needed cooperation to carryout their constitutional responsibility of educating and informing the public.
Speaking at this year’s state Triennial Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State Council, held at the NUJ House in Makurdi, Alia, declared that he was deeply honoured by the show of love demonstrated by members of the union in the state to put aside their differences upon his intervention after many years of crisis.
The governor represented by his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Solomon Iorpev, emphasized the need for journalists in the state to remain united looking at the crucial role they play in reshaping opinions and called on media practitioners to continue to partner his administration by projecting his modest efforts to the world positively, to change the negative narrative about the state already in the public domain, assuring the new EXCO of his support for them to succeed.
In a remark before declaring results of those that won the election, National President NUJ, Chris Isuguzo, represented by Vice Chairman Zone D, Chris Atsaka, commended the caretaker and credentials committee for a transparent exercise and promised that the national secretariat would continue to give the new EXCO the needed support to succeed.
Announcing results of the election whose all the contestants were returned unopposed through voice vote, Atsaka said Bemdoo Ugber of Radio Benue chapel emerged Chairman while Jerry Tyosase is to serve in the new EXCO as Vice Chairman.
Others include; Oryimam Gwaza- State Secretary, Moses Adikwu- Assistant Secretary, Brenda Agba- Treasurer, Terfa Nengean- Financial Secretary and Ene Akogwu as Internal Auditor respectively.
The national president representative, Atsaka, charged the new EXCO to be dedicated and show commitment to duty as well as to place the interest of the union and welfare of members top priority above self.
Responding on behalf of new EXCO members, chairman of NUJ Benue State council, Bemdoo Ugber, expressed appreciation to members for giving him their mandate after many years of crisis that bedeviled the council when his first victory was truncated through a court process, reaffirming his commitment to unite members as well as work assiduously for progress of the union.
He called for support and cooperation of members to enable him rebuild the union and take it back to its glorious days, promising that the new team he was leading will not disappoint members.