Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abia State Council, has blacklisted the Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Mr Mart Iheoma, for “not only abusing Abia journalists, calling them unprintable names, including ‘mbeciles’ and ‘criminals,’ but also threatening to bar them from covering State Government functions.”
NUJ subsequently, barred journalists and all conventional media outfits from media coverage of the blacklisted Chairman or his council area.
The Council further warned that “any registered member of Abia State NUJ who goes against this resolution on the Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, including the medium that covers or reports events emanating therefrom, will be severely sanctioned.”
This was contained in a 10-point communique issued at the end of her June 2025 monthly Congress, and signed by the Abia State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye.
The statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia read in part: “For disrespecting the Journalism profession, as well as members of the fourth estate of the realm, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council has resolved to boycott all activities and engagements of the Umuahia North Council Chairman as well as that of the Local Government Area.”
The Congress which was well attended by members from the various Chapels, noted with dismay, insults hurled at journalists on environmental sanitation duty of May 31, 2025, by the Mayor.
Abia Council of the NUJ, in very strong terms, condemned the action of the Mayor as elected official of Government, saying “it was unbecoming of a person in such an exalted office.”
NUJ noted that the Council has enjoyed a very robust and cordial relationship with Abia State Government “and will continue to do so but will not tolerate such actions that disrespect the noble and onerous responsibility of informing, educating and entertaining resting on the shoulders of journalists as did the Umuahia North Council Chairman.”
