* Delegates resisted Smuggling In Ballot Papers
* Delta Teachers Celebrate Victory Over Impunity
* New Exco Committ To Defend Teachers Welfare
Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba
The Delta State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, yesterday, elected new state executives to run her affairs for the next four years.
An election process marked with well coordinated, displined participation of all stakeholders, as all parties involved held tenesiously to a previously agreed terms of engagement.
Ahead of the elections, the previous leadership of the union planned and implemented the 7th delegate conference of the union, which began on Tuesday, scheduled an election for fresh state executives on Wednesday.
The election process began at about 10am, with all parties committed to allow peace, maturity and decorum define the process.
All relevant security agencies, national teachers representatives, top labour leaders and many Delta State based journalists were visibly present also to observe the process.
Peacefully, as planned and gracefully implemented, the voting process went on without any iota of breach of agreed terms of engagement, with all candidates's agents, security operatives, camera crew and the election's returning officers peacefully implementing a peaceful exercise.
The exercise almost lost it's peaceful atmosphere with the entrance of Comrade Mike Okeme, a special senior assistant to the state governor on Labour matters, towards end of voting process at the La Diva Hotel premises.
As delegates outside the voting hall traded words, counter banters and counter reasons why the governor's aide must enter or not enter the voting hall, the already and previously peaceful venue witnessed a raging charged atmosphere of disagring and near violent delegates response to Comrade Okeme's entrance.
Also, at about same time of delegates war of words and near violent eruption outside the hall, a young Calabar man, sources said is a staff at the NUT Secretariat, attempted smuggling in some election ballot papers into the voting hall through the voting hall's back-yard.
Unfortunately, for the young lad, watchful delegates accosted him, queried his movement and content of the carton he was carrying, luck ran off his side, when some few pull and pushes from delegates led to voting ballot papers falling off the carton.
Only heaven and kind intervention of some sympathetic delegates saved the life of the young man, as delegates angrily pounded him from all corners.
When asked who the young man attempted working for amongst the two contesting factions, responses were not well articulated, as some delegates our reporter spoke with affairmed that both candidates were suspects as the said ballot papers were yet signed nor marked.
Others queried the timing of the ballots papers movement as it happened with the entrance of the governor's aide and at about the same time when a near violent outburst was about erupting at the voting hall's entrance.
The Nigerian Police led by a three star officer, Ukadike S Chuks was seen visibly trying to calm the already tensed and near violent atmosphere, but the timely intervention and personal arrival of the Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Z.N. Ibrahim, at the near war zone, peace would had been murdered.
Barely thirty minutes after the police commissioner helped to restore peace, the election's returning officers announced to delegates outside to come in for announcement of election results.
The election's returning officers led by Chief John I Agbe (J.P), assisted by Idris Jamin, Mainuma Garba and Musa G Ali announced the new NUT Delta state 14 man executives.
For the next four years, the Delta State Wing of the union will be led by Comrade Okotie Titus as the state chairman, with Comrade Itiveh Moses A as his deputy chairman.
The delegates voted Comrades Aghaulor Obiajuru N; Nushe Joseph Okorie; Allanah Oputah-Otutu and Adiri Jonathan Jes as 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th vice chairman respectively.
Comrades Salami Lawrence Obiajulum; Erusigbe A Anthony; Ogbu Peter and Ufuoma Agboro emerged as the union's Treasurer; 1st Internal Auditor; 2nd Internal Auditor and Publicity Secretary respectively.
Also voted to serve the union were Comrade Eke Henry who will now serve as the union's editor, with Comrade Eterigho Sunday Unonotero as national representative, while Comrade Ijeh Mabel Ifeanyi and Comrade Burunu Deborah for four years function as Social Secretary and Assistant Social Secretary respectively.
Some of the elated teachers who spoke off camera with our reporter, affairmed that for once the union has elected a truly independent aluta driven state executives devoid of state government's interference and future manipulation.
In his acceptance speech, Comrade Okotie thanked all delegates for their peaceful conducts and assured them that his leadership will champion the welfare of teachers, carry all members along and defend the rights of all members.
No comments:
Post a Comment