Community newspaper publishers in Delta State have set aside their differences and united under a single, formidable front, dissolving all existing factions to deepen support for the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Recall that after their elections in November 2024, a leadership crisis in the union ensued which led to the emergence of another faction within the association of community newspaper publishers.
After several efforts to reconcile the differences, the union finally set aside their differences at a meeting in Asaba, the state capital.
At the meeting, the state chairman of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Comrade Philip Abiagom, said after much consultations, he reached out to the National President of the parent body to resolve the issue to support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
While reaffirming his commitment to quality leadership, Abiagom called on community newspaper publishers to identify with the ACNPN, even as he called on members to deepen their support for Governor Oborevwori.
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.
Responding, a veteran journalist 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 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.
