OYO NUJ PUNCHES BACK AT MAKINDE: YOU SNUBBED US AT 60, BUT YOU CAN’T SILENCE US — WE’LL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–“Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Monday failed to attend the opening ceremony of the 60th anniversary celebration and 2026 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, neither sending a representative nor acknowledging the event through an official delegation.”
The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has fired back at Governor Seyi Makinde after the Governor and Grand Patron of the union shunned its historic 60th anniversary celebration.
No show. No representative. No official acknowledgement. But the union says the snub will not break it — it will only strengthen its resolve to hold power to account.
GRAND PATRON WHO IGNORED HIS OWN INVITATION:
“The governor, who is also the Grand Patron of the union, was reportedly invited through official correspondence but was absent from the ceremony held to commemorate the council’s 60 years of existence.”
SIX-YEAR TRADITION BROKEN:
“His absence marked a departure from the established tradition of the Grand Patron declaring the union’s celebrations open. Even on occasions when he was unavailable in the past six years, Makinde had consistently delegated representatives to perform the function on his behalf.”
OGUNDIPE FILLS THE VOID:
“The opening ceremony was, however, declared open by a former NUJ National President, Prince Lanre Ogundipe, who represented the incumbent National President, Alhassan Yahya.”
OYO NUJ CELEBRATED AS THE OLDEST, AND STILL STANDING TALL:
“Ogundipe commended the Oyo State Council for celebrating the attainment of the historic milestone, describing it as the oldest NUJ council in the country and noting that it had lived up to expectations.”
ABAS CONFIRMS: WE INVITED HIM PROPERLY — WE ARE NOT DISTRACTED:
“Reacting to the governor’s absence, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Akeem Abas, confirmed that the state government was properly and officially invited but stressed that the development would not distract the union from its responsibilities.”
THE COUNTER-PUNCH — WE WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE:
“Abas said the council was not perturbed by the government’s absence, insisting that journalists would continue to hold those in government accountable irrespective of the circumstances.”
THE DEFIANT VOW:
“We will continue to practise our profession ethically, without fear or favour, irrespective of whose ox is gored,” he declared.
The NUJ chairman also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to journalists’ welfare, press freedom, professional development and the institutional growth of the union.
In his lecture, the Guest Lecturer, Chief Dare Babarinsa, advocated the retention of Nigeria’s North-South rotational presidency arrangement, describing it as essential to national unity and political stability.
Babarinsa, Chairman of Gaskia Media Limited, urged journalists to defend democracy, embrace digital innovation and create opportunities for younger professionals and women in the media industry.
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Six Decades of Legacy, Milestones and Lessons for the Future,’ the veteran journalist warned that traditional media organisations risked becoming irrelevant if they failed to adapt to changing realities in the media landscape.
He described journalists as custodians of national memory and urged them to sustain their contributions to nation-building through responsible and professional journalism.
A former Chairman of the NUJ Oyo State Council, Comrade Adewumi Faniran, also expressed displeasure over Governor Makinde’s absence and the failure of the governor to send a representative to the anniversary’s opening ceremony.
Faniran recalled the role played by the NUJ Press Centre in Makinde’s emergence as governor in 2019, noting that the governor’s political journey to the Oyo State Government House had a significant connection with the facility.
According to him, Makinde’s hand was raised on March 5, 2019, at the Dapo Aderogba Hall of the Press Centre by political leaders, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the Olubadan of Ibadanland, a few days before the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
He described the governor’s absence from the anniversary as disappointing, considering the role the union played in his emergence.
“Makinde’s hand was raised on March 5, 2019 by political leaders, including former Gov. Rashidi Ladoja, now the Olubadan of Ibadanland at this press centre few days to the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
“It is a great disappointment that the same governor was not part of this anniversary and did not even send any representative. This union played a significant role in Makinde’s emergence as governor,” Faniran said.
In their separate remarks, another former Chairman of the council, Mogaji Soladoye Adewole, and a former NUJ Vice-President for Zone B, Mogaji Cosmas Oni, commended Babarinsa for delivering what they described as an educative lecture.
The two former union leaders also applauded the continuous progress recorded by the council and commended the current leadership for sustaining developments at the Press Centre.
The Onigbeti of Igbeti Kingdom, Oba Bashir Abioye, also congratulated the NUJ Oyo State Council on attaining 60 years, describing the anniversary as a remarkable milestone in the union’s history of excellence, professionalism and nation-building.
The traditional ruler urged journalists in Oyo State to embrace digital technology and artificial intelligence while maintaining professionalism, ethical standards and the Yoruba Omoluabi values.
He further called on media practitioners to deploy their professional skills towards promoting good governance, national development, patriotism and moral values.
Oba Abioye expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness the historic occasion and commended journalists for their contributions to shaping society and promoting responsible citizenship.
The 60th anniversary celebration and 2026 Press Week provide an opportunity for the Oyo State Council to reflect on its six decades of contributions to journalism, democracy and nation-building, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the profession in an increasingly digital world
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