Why I Could Not Perform As NUJ Chairman – Ndoma Akpet

By CrossRiverWatch admin

Sacked chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Pastor Ndoma Akpet has given reasons why he could not perform for three years as the head the State Council.

Speaking during his consultation tour to the information chapel in Calabar, before a court judgement abruptly removed him and barred him and his exco from seeking a rerun, Akpet acknowledged that his three years in the saddle were uneventful due to in experience.

He said, “I know I have not performed in the last three years of my administration because I’m gathering experience.”

According to the former chairman, he was voted into office without experience, consequently, he could not impact meaningfully on the developmental program for the union in the last three years.

Reacting to the statement, a former Chairman of NUJ who preferred anonymity told this reporter that it was a big relief that the court judgement removed and stopped Ndoma Akpet from seeking re-election as the chairman. According to him, three‎ years is enough for any serious minded leader to show his/her worth.

“That he could not point at anything he did as Chairman of NUJ for three years when he knew he will need members for his re-election is enough to throw him into the dustbin. Is it now that he would not have been constitutionally allowed to seek re-election for another term after two terms that he would have performed?

“Journalists should beware of a “shadow” leader. We are too matured for such an untenable excuse to return anyone to office. Look! We have had many chairmen who did one tenure including myself ‎ but laid a good foundation with performance evidence for the union to see. For Christ sake, how can a chairman openly say he used three years to gain experience? This is ridiculous, untenable and even laughable.” He said.

Mr. Ndoma Akpet was elected into the office as Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State in a competitive election of 6th of March 2013, where he purportedly defeated the incumbent at the time‎, Mr. Eniang Ndem who members also accused of non-performance.

Eniang proceeded to the National Industrial Court to challenge the eligibility of Ndoma Akpet and his entire exco to stand for the election and the court last week gave a judgement sacking Akpet and his entire exco, ordering a re-run of the election in within 30 days and also barred Akpet and his exco members from seeking re-election.