My beloved colleagues, thanks for being part of this
history-making day. A people cannot be
governed by any person without their consent.
It is your right to be told how we would drive an almost sinking
boat(our Chapel) to the shores without rocking it. In stepping out to wear the shoes of service
in the office of the Chairman of our Chapel, I am not oblivious of the burden
and challenges associated with this office.
I am not unaware of your clamour for change in the ways of doing things
and perhaps looking for new ways of doing new things. But, I salute your courage, tact and patience
for waiting up until now for that long expected change to come. You and I represent that change. The change will not come until you cast your
vote wisely for a symbol of humility, simplicity, accessibility,
accountability, and respect for persons, service above self and resourceful
leadership. With due respect to your sensibilities and without prejudices to
your persons, I stand for these symbols.
In offering myself to be your chief servant, on my honour, I
promise to pursue the following programmes in three years:
1.
To ensure that known and unknown means and ways are
pursued to procure a functional Secretariat for the Chapel within the shortest
possible time.
2.
To run a functional Bar and ancilliary services(internet facilities like laptops,
modem for free browsing, indoor games like Scrabble, Chess, Draught etc) in the
Secretariat.
3.
To ensure that the welfare issues of members are
seriously addressed thus;
(a)
Benefits
accruable during events to be shared equally to all members of the Chapel duly
invited to such events after taking out any percentage approved by Congress for
the Chapel’s purse.
(b)
To introduce a weekly programme in which members would
be pleased to present their clients for interaction with Chapel members(for
creation of news stories, features, interviews etc.) and the blessings
there-from shared to members.
4.
To ensure that members have unfettered access to their
bus for use when they have need for it.
Relations of members who have need for using the bus would do so at a
token per day(to be decided by Congress) and such monies would be lodged in the
Chapel’s account to foot maintenance bills of the bus when the need arises.
5.
To mount at least one Seminar or Workshop each year to
sharpen the knowledge and skills of members in specific areas of Journalism
practice.
6.
To hold Congresses and executive meetings in line with
the provision of the Constitution of our Union.
7.
To pursue other avenues of welfare programmes for the
benefit of our members, including such avenues suggested by individual members.
8.
Apart from Congresses which would create a feedback
base for guidance of leadership, we would create a Suggestion Box at the Secretariat for your suggestions,
comments, inputs, observations, corrections etc as a guide post to a listening leadership.
The above and more things would be achieved within the three
years mandate you would grant me within which I will wear the garb of
leadership of our Chapel.
We would together pursue the above Mission with a Vision to
succeed together. I will not do it
alone, but with you through Committees.
In attempt to achieve the above feats we would encounter challenges, but
we would roll through together to victory and would be better for it.
However, remember that your vote is your power and no amount
of money equals the quality content of your power. Accept monetary enticements if they come your
way in whatever form, name or color by political lobbyists as well as my other
contestants, resist with your vote any imposition of a candidate as your
leader. Resist with your vote any
leadership that would not only be accountable to you but bully you, shout you
down, insult your person and blackmail you when you attempt to find answers to
what goes wrong while you are being led.
When the time comes, cast your vote wisely for probity,
accountability, simplicity, accessibility and a result-oriented candidate with
clear cut Vision to fulfill a Mission for our benefit in the next three
years. Please, give me your mandate via
your vote as I will not let you down. This
is my Covenant with you and it shall be done, by the grace of God.
Thank you and God bless.
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