By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD
Injustice is universal! Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo is employing other workers. But today he shut down permanently National Light Newspapers. We are yet to see his reasons. Those handling the letter of closure were under close surveillance. But, we are waiting for its contents to be made open.
Against denials from government that National Light Newspapers haven’t been shut, it’s finally shut today Friday July 21, 2023.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Printing Corporation, publishers of National Light Newspapers, Chief Chuka Nnabuife this evening at the close of work received a Letter of Closure from the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo. That means that ,the organization is no longer known to the Anambra State Government.
The letter sent wrong signals amidst tension but we have asked journalists working with the organization to stay calm until the details are made available to them.
The Management of National Light Newspapers would be addressed on Tuesday ,before staff would be briefed. Since this mission to shut down National Light began ,the staff haven’t been briefed on the plans of government. They are at lost till date aside that government brings N10Milllion every month as running cost. It’s a story for another day.
History is indeed made today as the first Professor to govern Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo shut down National Light, the flagship Newspaper of the Eastern Nigeria employung about 100 families is shut when other states in South East are investing on their own state Newspapers.
Let it be on record that Chief Chuka Nnabuife supritended a once vibrant organization with 97 staff, 3 retiring this year and 10 retiring before next 2 years , but only succeeded in digging the grave for the burial of National Light Newspapers today. He was on for 8 years of appointment and about 2 years of debriefing for it’s obituary. He kept all information to himself, planned for his own exit strategy, yet allowing his subjects to be swallowed by the sudden but calculated irrational decision. Does a General allow his men to perish in battle? Journalists in National Light Newspapers may perish ,without their general?
This is unbelievable but God knows. As journalists rose in defence of the planned closure and sack of journalists working in National Light, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon Paul Nwosu defended the Soludo led administration accusing the Chairman of NUJ Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD of boycotting due diligence in reporting a sensitive thing yet to be finalized at Exco. They even asked him to apologize. What’s happening now?
This humiliating stance of trained journalists and others happened in the era of Barr Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni as Head of Service and Mrs Collette Nwajiani as Chairman Anambra State Civil Service Commission. I was expecting Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Sylva Chika Ifemeje to advise them on this mission but we are waiting for Tuesday to see exactly all the contents. For me , it’s confirmation having seen.
Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Hon Somtochukwu Udeze hasn’t said a word either, even when National Light is an establishment of the law.
Nigeria Labour Congress is equally watching to determine the level of hatred for Journalists that other professionals are been employed in thousands but a fewer number of exciting workers for years were sacked without hiss.
Why would the first Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo not worried over this National Light Newspapers? She has kept mute in the face of outright injustice against 100 workers at NationalLightNewspapers, yet …..
People who were workers for decades till yesterday, will suddenly be thrown to the labour market afresh jobless..
We haven’t said a word yet. We have been suggesting and advising. Karma is bitch. It can come anyway…
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Cornucopia is a weekly column of Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD.
Odogwu is a known Journalist, Editor, Media Consultant, Teacher, Social Analyst, Motivator, Unionist and Famous Blogger ,as well as Social Media Entrepreneur, Publisher and Conversationalist @ www.odogwublog.com among others.
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