By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Abia state council, Nigeria Union of Journalist, has blacklisted the Executive chairman Umuahia North LGA, the Mayor of Abia state capital, Mr. Smart Iheoma, For disrespecting the Journalism
profession, as well as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
“For this reason, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council has resolved to boycott all activities and engagements of the Umuahia North Council Chairman, Mr. Smart Iheoma, as well as that of the Local Government Area.”
This boycott is contained in a 10-point Communique issued at the end of her monthly Congress for the month of June, 2025, signed by Comrade Chidi Asonye and Comrade Iyke Onegbu, State Chairman and Secretary of Abia NUJ council, respectively, and made available to our reporter in Umuahia on Monday.
The communique equally barred journalists from capturing him or his Council in their reports whatsoever in all conventional Media.
The Congress which was well attended by members from the various Chapels and chaired by the Council Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye, had noted with dismay, insults hurled at journalists on environmental sanitation duty of May 31, 2025, by the Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Mr Smart Iheoma, wherein he, not only abused Abia journalists, calling them unprintable names, including “imbeciles” and “criminals,” but also threatened to bar them from covering state government functions.
The union condemned such action of an elected official of the government, even as it stated that it was unbecoming of a person in such an exalted office.
The Abia State Council of the NUJ further warned that any registered member of Abia State NUJ who goes against this resolution on the Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, including the medium that covers or reports events emanating therefrom, will be severely sanctioned.
It noted that the Council has enjoyed a very robust and cordial relationship with the Abia State Government and will continue to do so, but will not tolerate such actions that disrespect the noble and onerous responsibility of informing, educating, and entertaining resting on the shoulders of journalists, as did the Umuahia North Council Chairman.