The Imo State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Charles Okey Okere, has expressed displeasure over a media report (Not this medium) allegedly attributing to him a statement of the unreadiness of political parties for the forthcoming September 21 Imo State local government elections, noting that he was misinterpreted in order to make catchy headlines.
Comrade Okere, was reacting to the publication, through a statement he issued and obtained by this medium.
He wondered how some sections of the media would seek to stir up controversies through disinformation, instead of communicating effectively towards promoting peace, unity and development in the society.
The NULGE boss, who described the said report as sensational journalism maintained that NULGE which he leads in the state is only concerned with the welfare of members who are civil servants, and for no reason be dragged into political matters which the publication aimed at. He advised that inquiries and clarifications about the LGA elections should be channeled to the electoral umpire, ISIEC, Political Parties and not the union.
He added that since assuming office, he had diligently explored ways of improving the working conditions of the members of the union in Imo State with the support of other state officers, declaring that such efforts are already producing good fruits, hence fulfilling his electoral mandate and continued outpouring of confidence in him and support from Imo NULGE members.
“I am not comfortable with a report in Leadership Newspaper which misinterpreted my comment on the forthcoming Imo LGA election during an interaction with some newsmen. I insisted that sensitization of the electorates was the duty of Political Parties, Electoral Umpire and the Press, not the union. In my words, ‘…..any Political Party that is not willing to educate and sensitize the electorates on their civic duties during elections is not ready for election”. How does the statement mean that Political Parties are not ready for elections. Such a headline could cause confusion, as well as put me in a bad light. This sensational journalism should be ignored by the public.
Let me state for records that we, the members of NULGE, both at the state and national levels are civil servants and not politicians. We have our rules of engagement as government employees, hence we do not interfere in partisan politics. So, I am using this opportunity to express my dissatisfaction with that report, and to urge the public to disregard it,” the statement read in part.
Notwithstanding, Comrade Okere, through the release, commended Governor Hope Uzodimma, for his bold step towards conducting local government elections in the state, describing such as a step towards the desired Local Government autonomy. He opined that the gesture would not only deepen democratic process at various localities, but fast track development at the grassroots.
The NULGE boss who pledged support and loyalty to the state government, recalled that the union is in partnership with government in community development and improved workers’ welfare, among others. He thanked the governor for his magnanimity towards the LGA workers, revealing that Governor Uzodimma is a listening leader who was even reconsidering the report of the verification panel, which excluded some staff from salaries on the grounds of irregularities in their employment process after pleas from the union.
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