Dan Opara
Media practitioners in Imo State under the platform of Owerri West Journalists,OJA, were on Wednesday, Nov.13th 2019, paid a well- deserved courtesy visit to the Imo State House of Assemblymember representing Owerri West State Constituency, Hon. Chief Kanayo Onyemechi Dele, aka Egbe Ejieje Ogu.
Speaking on behalf of OJA members, the Chairman of the association, Mr.Sunny Ejiogu, from Ohii Owerri West LGA, who is a staff (, a Publisher) of the Newspoint Newspaper Owerri, expressed delight to be received by the Lawmaker.
Chief Ejiogu, in his introduction of the union and its members, said “OJA was formed to project the activities of Owerri West. To protect our political leaders in the Local Govt. To develop Owerri West. To give Owerri West leaders strong voices. To build and rebuild Owerri West for the interest of the people of the council”.
The OJA Chairman, furthermore speaking, described OJA as a registered association.
” We are aimed and targeted at uplifting the values of Owerri West leadership, politics, religion, unity of Owerri west, but we as journalists (Watchdog of the society) must always report on objectivity based on the ethics of the Journalism profession”, he submitted.
“We ever poised to project positively all the leadership achievements of all the political office holders, business moguls, captains of industries, religious leaders to the limelight”, he assured.
He, therefore, noted the OJA members are interested to work for the welfare, progress of Owerri West but called for synergy between the political merchants and the Journalists from the area.
Responding, the Owerri West State House of Assembly member, Hon. Kanayo Onyemechi expressed satisfaction to honor members of OJA.
” Your own thing remains yours. God knows the reason he created and positioned all the human beings in all the Autonomous Communities in Owerri West. You as Journalists, we as leaders in politics. Let us use our positions and contacts to make Owerri West great. I am very happy to familiarize myself with the leadership of OJA”, he noted.
Hon. Dele, said, “As Journalists, you have powers to make or mar someone, but with your consciences, always make people grow. Don’t pull down anybody. Use your pen and media organizations for the development of the council, the state and the country in general”.
He charged Journalists to always be their brothers’ keepers.
The Lawmaker, Hon. Onyemechi, while speaking, described his last election and his recent Appeal Court victory as a victory for Owerri West.
“Say the truth at all times. Do not allow the bad fellow to come into your union. You have good visions as OJA, do not allow persons with evil character to be in your midst”, he advised.
The Lawmaker, however, boasted that he will in no distant time, show his scorecards to the good people of Owerri West.
” I will show my scorecards.I am not in the IMHA for an academic exercise. After releasing the budget, I will display my scorecards for Owerri West people to see. And I will do more for my people. I am waiting for the 2020 budget”.
“Please, do not attribute my credit to anybody or even to the Federal House of Representative Member for Owerri Federal Constituency”, he warned.
He stated that his; coming to the State House of Assembly is not to sell lands, rather make laws that would better the lives of the people of Owerri West.
Hon. Kanayo, therefore, assured the Owerri West people of effective representation.
Meanwhile, the Patron of OJA, Sir. Fidel Onyeneke, who was the former Imo NUJ State Chairman, who is also a member of OJA, thanked the Lawmaker for his familiarity with OJA, even as he promised that the union shall always project his legislative activities.
Sir Onyeneke,in his words, called on OJA members to partner with all the political juggernauts in Owerri West for the interest of the Constituency.
Also adding his voice, the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Owerri West, Hon. Innocent Ekenma, aka Obama, commended OJA members for their cooperation and enjoined them to write positively for the general interest of the Constituency.
He said,” I truly like the way and manner in which you people are reaching out to the people of Owerri West. Please, go ahead, hence you are doing the right thing. Your movement is a welcome development for the betterment of Owerri West. My prayer is for God to make all of you excel in life. But report on the truth. Do not allow anybody to use you. Support anybody you want to, but do not defame anybody”, Ekenma advised.
Some of the OJA members present during the visit include: “Hon. Deacon Daniel Opara,Danjay, from Irete, but writes for the Moment Newspapers and the South East News Correspondent of the Universal Reporters Online, Comr.Stanley Uzoaru, from Ndegwu, but writes for Sun Newspapers, Chief Chris Njoku,from Nekede,but write for the Nation Newspapers, Comr.Chinonso Alozie,from Amakaohia-Ubi,writes the Vanguard Newspapers and Comr.Reagan Obinze,but writes for the National Newsbreak Newspaper,with some other Journalists from Owerri West, who were present”.
