By Lawrence Nwimo
The Anambra state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria have made special appeal to Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo to consider making Mr Gabriel Okpalaeze the next substantive Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS).
The group made the appeal on Thursday when NUJ and RATTAWU excos paid courtesy visit to ABS and met Mr Okpalaeze who is currently functioning as acting managing director of the government owned media station.
Speaking during the visit, the state NUJ chairman , Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD, said media practitioners in the state have long expected Mr Okpalaeze to be named the Managing Director of the station, stressing that it is unfair that Mr Okpalaeze was previously overlooked and had spent over eight years in a single position without being considered for promotion to become the MD.
Comrade Odogwu described Mr Okpalaeze who held position of the Director of News and Current Affairs before being appointed as the acting MD of the station as an astute administrator who serves the station with zeal and dedication. He even noted that the appointment should be a reward for his consistency, experience and giant contributions to the growth of media practice in ABS and the state at large.
Also speaking, RATTAWU state chairman, Comrade Andy Onwualu described Okpalaeze as a round peg in a round hole and added that it is only an insider that could understand areas of challenges, improvement and solutions to move the organization forward.
Contributing, vice president Southeast RATTAWU, Prince Emeka Kalu said the appointment of Okpalaeze as the MD ABS would be a plus to the applause directed to the Soludo-led government, following the governor’s recent nomination of two former ABS staff to serve as commissioners in his administration.
One of the senior staff of ABS, Rotarian Abuchi Nwozor noted that the staff of ABS are no longer at home with the imposition of outsiders to manage the affairs of the station. He also expressed confidence in the capacity of Mr Okpalaeze and maintained that he (Okpalaeze) is more than qualified to lead the station to its promised land.
Reacting, Mr Gabriel Okpalaeze expressed gratitude to NUJ and RATTAWU and noted that he least expected the magnitude of support and prayers he received from the Unions.
He however, hinted that he had set measures in motion to turn the station from subvented establishment to net profit organization and that his prudential management of funds will be deployed in moving the organization forward.