The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has disowned a group known as the Port Harcourt Media Organisation.
in a statement on Monday by the state NUJ Chairman and Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo, respectively, union also advised the public to be wary of the group and other groups that masquerade as media organisations in the state.
It would be recalled that the army recently said it had in its custody, a suspect and alleged accomplice in oil theft who claimed to be a journalist in Rivers State .
The union said it was not aware of any media organisation or chapel known as Port Harcourt Media Organisation, and therefore called on the Rivers State Police Command to arrest the leader of the faceless group, one Bright Nnokam, for impersonation.
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The state NUJ noted that the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Guild of Editors are the only recognized professional bodies affiliated with the NUJ and the journalism profession in the country.
“This statement was informed by recent media reports that a member of the House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in Rivers State, Rep. Blessing Chigeru Amadi, recently met with the said Port Harcourt Media Organisation for a media briefing.
“For the umpteenth time, we want to advise Rep. Blessing Chigeru Amadi to desist from patronizing quacks who masquerade as journalists in the state,” the NUJ stated.
The union also urged political office holders in the state, especially local government council chairmen to always use professionals as their press officers to avoid unnecessary backlash.
