Dr Qasim Akinreti, When he emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he immediately acknowledged the unseen hands behind his victory.
He mounted the stage at the LTV multi-purpose hall in Ikeja, Lagos, raised his hands up to his ears, softly said “Allahu Akbar”, lowered and placed the right hand over the left, then he bent down, stood back, and then prostrated the Islamic way known as Sajdah.
That was how he acknowledged the hands of Allah in his victory.
If the victory had gone the other way, his opponents would have celebrated with the Aso-Ebi (uniform) that they had sewn and brought for that expected moment.
Akinreti, Assistant Director News with Voice of Nigeria, polled a total of 288 votes to defeat Mr Leye Ajayi of the News Agency of Nigeria, who garnered 272 votes in a fiercely contested election that lasted about 10 hours.
Akinreti had shown at the early stage of the election that he was pinning his hope in his God when he left the voting venue, in the heat of the battle, for a nearby mosque to say his afternoon prayer, Asr, without letting his supporters know.
Fearing that his opponent was gaining the upper hand, some of Akinreti’s supporters began to search for him frantically. After a long while he emerged from a distance smiling softly all the way back.
Cool, calm, and collected, Akinreti looked unruffled as they confronted him with a plethora of complaints on perceived irregularities that could affect his chances.
He said no matter what, victory was certain.
And it came to pass.
The New Team
For the position of Vice Chairman of the Lagos Council, a pastor, Mrs Abiola Beckley of Daar Communications also had her prayers answered. She scored 282 votes to beat her challenger from the Vanguard newspapers – Mr Innocent Anaba, who recorded a total of 275 votes.
Other portfolios were not contested for as the officers emerged unopposed.
Akinreti addressing his supporters after the victory.
Akinreti later described the victory as a defining moment in the history of Lagos NUJ.
He appreciated elders of the profession who contributed immensely to the success of the election as he also commended the immediate past leadership of Lagos NUJ for its efforts in the last two terms, totalling six years.
The VON’s Assistant Director News assured members that there would be no victimization of any sort, saying that he would run an all inclusive administration that would give everyone a sense of belonging.
“Tonight is not a night of speeches, I thank the Almighty God for this day, I also thank the elders of this great profession and I commend the leaders at the national and state levels, especially the immediate past executives; I want to assure everyone that there shall be no victimization, we will run an open door administration, we do not have monopoly of knowledge and I want to assert that we are all winners in this election, God willing, I will serve you assiduously as I have promised and I will open my arms to everyone because we all have a common goal, which is to move Lagos NUJ forward,” Akinreti said.
He also called on those with differences to bury the hatchet and come together as one big family.
“We might have offended ourselves in the course of our electioneering, I want us to put that behind us and move on,” he added.
The immediate past Chairman, Mr Deji Elumoye affirmed that he would make himself available whenever clarification was sought from his administration.
“In case you (present Executives) want to ask any question about what we have done in the last six years, my doors are open, even if I am out of the country, I will come back to answer you.”
Vice President of NUJ, Southwest (B Zone), Mr Cosmos Oni, lauded the candidates and the electorates for comporting themselves responsibly despite the slight hiccups at the initial stage.
Mr Oni who was the Chief Returning Officer of the election then administered the oath of office on the new Executives.
Speaking in the same vein, the National President of NUJ, Mr Waheed Odusile charged the newly sworn-in State Council Chairman to be the ‘father of all’ and unite all members.
“I welcome you to the club, you are the chairman now, you will begin to understand what it means to be a leader, you have nobody to blame for any of your shortcomings,” Mr Odusile hinted.
Mr Odusile also reminded Nigerian journalists that the initiative of biometric registration and identity card had come to stay in the profession.
“Let me say it once again, biometrics has come stay, I urge you all to do the needful and ensure regular payment of your check-off dues,” he said.
The NUJ President then enjoined all journalists in Lagos to join hands with the new Executives, to move the profession to an enviable height.
