[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ELTA State Commissioner for Information, Hon Charles Aniagwu on Monday enjoined indigenous media Publishers in the state to resist the urge to pander towards disintegration but to rather resolve their differences amicably through appropriate channels.He has vowed to work with the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria,(ACNPN) Delta State Chapter, adding that the State Government recognises the body as the only umbrella body for publishers in the state.
The Commissioner charged aggrieved members to refer to the constitution governing the association and resolve their differences amicably or express their preferences through the ballot held at periodic intervals, rather than attempting to pull down the house just because they were not in power.
“Whether you like it or not, one body pays you more. What I think you need to do is to activate your law and effect your yearnings and aspirations if you are not satisfied with the present leadership of your association. No organized society just breaks up because one person is angry. He said: “I am not here to score the leaders of the association if they have done well or not since they assumed office. My take is that you all elected comrade Jude Obiemenyengo as your Chairman and anyone aggrieved should be patient to vote him out when his tenure elapses .
“I met with ACNPN and another different group of publishers separately some days back and decided to call every publisher here today to see if we can have one house.”He however called on all publishers in the state to unite and become a formidable voice under one platform, ACNPN, adding that the government will only deal with ACNPN henceforth as the only recognised umbrella for community newspaper publishers in the state.
Hon Charles Aniagwu warn the rebel group not bring in sentiments, resort to your laws otherwise what you want to do is to act without making use of your laws and I disagree.I have identified the fact that some of you may be angry and you are entitled to feel so but ventilating your grievances, resort to your laws and not your whims and caprices” he said.
Meanwhile, in a press release, ACNPN commended the commissioner for meddling in the affairs of the association in order to foster peace and promote grassroots journalism in the state.
The press statement signed by Jude Obiemenyego, Chairman and Mercy Akuba, Secretary, read: “The leaders of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria use this medium to commend the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, for meddling in the crisis that hitherto rocked the association in Delta State.
“We are glad that the truth has come to the open,as the Honourable Commissioner has on behalf of the Delta State Government endorsed and recognised the association as the only umbrella body for publishers in the state led by Comrade Jude Obiemenyego.”
Furthermore, the association passed a vote of confidence on the DELTA State Commissioner for Information,Hon Charles Aniagwu,as they promised that ACNPN under the leadership of Comrade Jude Obiemenyego will always support the state government in pushing her‘Stronger Delta’ agenda .
By: Ike Abiagom
