The crisis that have set Publishers apart in Delta State have finally been laid to rest as the factional Chairman of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers, Dr. Dike Awana have officially resigned his position urging all Publishers in the State to join Association of Community Newspaper Publishers (ACNPN) and support the elected leadership led by Comrade Ike Abiagom.
This is coming after a reconciliation committee was set up by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Newspaper, Mr. Oronomoakpaiye to reconcile Community Newspaper Publishers in the state.
Remarking, the National President of the Federated Union of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, Comrade Dan Awana, admitted that the election which led to the emergence of Comrade Abiagom was genuine.
He pledged to support Comrade Abiagom in his efforts to lead the ACNPN, while he focuses on piloting the affairs of the union at the national level. ‘’A father and his son cannot fight’’ he said.
‘’I have decided, after much consultations, to allow Comrade Abiagom to paddle the canoe. At the same time, I must say that because of the job I have done in publishing, I have been elected as the President of all community newspapers in Nigeria.
‘’So, I cannot be in Abuja and at the same time be in Delta State. It is not so. So, I have mandated Comrade Abiagom to carry on. The Governor is doing very well and he needs us to unite because where there is crisis, development does not come. So, from now henceforth, there is no faction in ACNPN.
‘’On this note, I am surrendering every power I once held back to Comrade Abiagom as the one in charge of the ACNPN in Delta State’’ he said, even as he pledged his continued support to Comrade Abiagom.
” I have trained over 48 Publishers and some of them are in ACNPN, I am also the National President of Federated Association of Publishers, so I have to sit back and reposition my focus on National issues while I support my State Chairman of ACNPN.
On her part,the one time Chairman of ACNPN, Comrade Felida Essie said the crisis has not helped anyone, rather, it has set Publishers against themselves.
She reaffirmed her support to Comrade Ike Philip Abiagom led leadership and advised all Publishers to work with him to consolidate on what the former Chairman, Comrade Jude Obeienyegho had achieved.
Responding, a veteran journalist/Publisher and former special assistant to the former Commissioner for information, Comrade Dave Diai, expressed joy for the reconciliation, even as he recalled efforts to resolve the leadership crisis within the ACNPN.
‘’There is only one ACNPN in Delta State. Elder Awana is the chairman of the national body of community newspaper publishers while Comrade Ike Philip Abiagom is the chairman of ACNPN in Delta State.
‘’On this strength, I want to appeal to all ACNPN members to fall behind this new arrangement that has made Comrade Abiagom the chairman of ACNPN. Recall that he was duly elected as the chairman of this body which is the only substantive body of community newspaper publishers in Delta State’’ he said.