CAA ASABA: NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel Flays Media Attack On Members

By Iteveh Ekpokpobe

Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State council has described a publication accusing its members of mercantile journalism as fallacious with a call on the authors to be properly guided.

In a statement signed by the Chapel Chairman, Comr. Paul Osuyi, and the Secretary, Comr. Dominic Adewole, the Chapel took exception to the allegations of professional misconduct, and challenged the author, one Mr Olukayode Thomas to produce evidence of those he alleged to have demanded gratification and texted their bank account details.

According to them, the chapel is composed of a group of seasoned professional journalists who represent reputable national media organizations stressing that there exist, an in house disciplinary measure against anyone found to have contravened journalism ethics.

The Chapel, viewed the allegation as another attempt to smear the reputation of members of Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel, and vehemently disagreed with the author statement which they described as weighty claims.

They said, “As professionals, we are bound to report issues the way they are. As a matter of fact, journalists the world over, are independent minded professionals, which we expect the CNN award winner and Head (Media and Publicity) of CAA Asaba 2018 to know and be properly guided as such.”

“Lest we forget that before The Pointer publication of August 22, the said report credited to Mr. Thomas had been widely circulated in different social media handles, where he also claimed that a member of the chapel, Festus Ahon of Vanguard told him (Thomas) that he broke the news of the water tank collapse “because LOC did not settle him”.

“The said report was already trending online and even some newspapers had reported it a day before the Vanguard carried it. Therefore, it is wrong for Thomas Olukayode to say that the Vanguard broke the report of the collapsed water tank.” The statement read.