Unique moments in history have always been driven by unique men. Such uniqueness has always been demonstrated in strength of character, integrity, courage,and unbridled passion to protect the sanctity of revered institutions and her laws.
Today, men with such rare stuff are few. Very few. But one has just stepped forward to contest election to the position of State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Akwa Ibom State council in the August 1, 2016 elections. He is Comrade Joseph Robert.
Comrade Joseph Robert has worked in the public service for a period more than 25 years. For 15 years, Joseph has been an active journalist working at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information and Communications.
Comrade Joseph Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo. He is a former vice chairman, and chairman of the State Information chapel of the NUJ.
Based on performance and trust, he was elected State secretary of the NUJ in 2010 and got re-elected to the same position in 2013.
In the last six years, Comrade Joseph Robert has served simultaneously as a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NUJ, and State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State.
He served as a member of the NUJ constitutional conference held in Benin, Edo State. That conference produced the current constitution of the union.
Joseph Robert is famous for his unequivocal disposition and insistence on strict standards of behaviour and due process. His greatest desire is to always ensure that issues of the union are handled in line with the lettering and spirit of the constitution of the union. This however has been his greatest albatross with those on the other side of the divide.
Comrade Joseph Robert has a penchant for order and discipline. He is meticulous in keeping records of the union.
For the August 1, 2016 Akwa Ibom State council elections of the NUJ, Comrade Joseph Robert stands tall in experience, discipline, professionalism, depth of thought and expression, integrity and courage. When he flagged off his campaigns yesterday, Friday July 22, supporters of his fellow contestant acknowledged that he’s got courage. Courage is a substance of thorough training, self- confidence and mental liberty. This is Comrade Joseph Robert’s tonic.
It is these unique characters that have attracted many likes from top brass journalists including former National and State officers of the union to his team, THE REDEMPTION PROJECT 2016.
The REDEMPTION PROJECT 2016 floating Comrade Joseph Robert’s campaigns has it slogan as, “NUJ our pride…lets redeem it together”.
It is championed by an Assistant Director News of the AKBC radio, Mr. Edet Ikotidem; a former National Vice Chairman and State chairman of NUJ, Mr. Sunday Antai; two other former State chairmen of the NUJ, Mr. Bassey Eyo and Mr. Israel Umoh. The team also has the former Personal Assistant on Local Media to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, Mr. Ita Benedict; Bureau chiefs of both the News Agency of Nigeria, publisher/managing Editor of Ibom Telegraph, Darlington Udobong, publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Radar, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and the State Ministry of Information and Communications, among others.
Comrade Joseph Robert says his redemption mission is aimed at returning “sanity to the union by making NUJ constitution a cornerstone for leadership and membership”, and restoring “the integrity and image of the union through honest and responsible deals with members and associates alike”.
This mission is encapsulated in a-5 point agenda. Each is dissected into bits in his manifesto for easy understanding, implementation, and evaluation.
The REDEMPTION PROJECT 2016 team has Comrade Ernest Udoh, as vice chairmanship candidate. Ernest is the immediate past secretary of federated chapel and holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication.
Next in the team is Comrade Esin Esin, a senior correspondent with the AKBC radio service. Esin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (double honours) in Communication Arts/English Language, and a Master of Science degree in Public Order/ Information Management. He is contesting to the position of secretary.
Comrade Samuel Bassey, candidate for the position of financial secretary in the REDEMPTION team works at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information and Communications. He holds a B.A in Theatre Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism. Comrade Samuel Bassey is also a registered nurse.
The bedrock of Comrade Joseph Robert’s REDEMPTION PROJECT 2016, is transparency and accountability. And this is just the ointment of REDEMPTION in this unique moment.
Dear Akwa Ibom Journalists, rise with the team. Rise, rise to REDEMPTION on August 1.
+Publicity team+
THE REDEMPTION PROJECT 2016.
#NUJ2016THELIGHTOFTRUTH
