Titus Eleweke, South East Editor
AWKA-The Anambra State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday honoured the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, and the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, in recognition of their contributions to peace-building, media support, and effective news management in the state.
The awards recognition were presented during an end year party organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel in Awka.
Presenting the Award of Peace Advocate to CP Ikioye Orutugu, the Chairman of the Anambra State Correspondents’ Chapel, Chief Chuks Ilozue, commended the police commissioner for his proactive peace initiatives, particularly his intervention in the crisis between the Correspondents’ Chapel and the Anambra State NUJ.
According to Ilozue, the chapel resolved to honour the police commissioner in recognition of his deliberate and genuine efforts to mediate and restore harmony among journalists in the state.
“When the Commissioner of Police assumed duty in Anambra State and discovered that there was a crisis among journalists, he did not look the other way. He decided to wade in and work towards restoring peace and harmony, even though the issue has not been completely resolved,” Ilozue said.
He described the commissioner’s action as a hallmark of a professional police officer who believes in peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution.
“Let it be on record that CP Orutugu initiated a peace process aimed at resolving the issues between the Correspondents’ Chapel and the Anambra State NUJ. We are bestowing this honour on him in recognition of his peaceful disposition and commitment to unity in Anambra State,” he added.
Ilozue also commended the commissioner for his robust fight against crime, noting that since his assumption of office, the level of criminal activities in the state has reduced significantly.
“The coming of CP Orutugu has brought renewed vigour to crime-fighting efforts in the state. His strategies have helped to drastically reduce crime and improve public safety,” he said.
In the same vein, the chapel also honoured the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, for his excellence in news and information management, as well as his cordial relationship with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel.
Ilozue noted that Aburime has made the work of journalists easier through the clarity, accuracy, and timeliness of the information and press releases he provides.
“He has made our work very easy. The stories he sends out are clear, factual, and professionally packaged, reducing the stress journalists often go through in trying to interpret or reconstruct information,” he said.
He assured that the chapel would continue to sustain the existing cordial relationship with Aburime and the Anambra State Government.
In his response, CP Ikioye Orutugu thanked the Correspondents’ Chapel for the honour and commended journalists for their consistent support.
According to him, the media has made his work in Anambra State easier by ensuring that police activities and achievements are properly communicated to the public.
“No matter what you are doing, if the media do not take it to the public, it is as if you have done nothing. I am happy to have a good relationship with the media, and I appreciate the way you project what we are doing in Anambra State to the public,” he said.
He expressed his appreciation for the state, the governor, and the people of Anambra, describing his relationship with them as warm and mutually beneficial.
“I have enjoyed my stay in Anambra State. I have enjoyed my working relationship with the Governor, and most importantly, I enjoy a good relationship with the people of Anambra State. It feel like a very cordial, almost romantic relationship,” he added.
The police commissioner further disclosed that upon his arrival in the state, he was faced with daunting security challenges but chose to respond decisively and positively.
“When I came to Anambra State, I was confronted with serious security challenges, but we decided to confront them head-on. We exploded positively, and today we are seeing the impact of our efforts in crime reduction,” he said.
According to him, the successes recorded were made possible through the cooperation of Ndi Anambra and the support of sister security agencies, which have helped to reduce crime to a minimal level in the state.
Also responding, Mr. Christian Aburime thanked the chapel for the recognition and commended journalists for their professional reportage of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and the activities of the state government.
He stated that the positive and balanced reportage of the governor and his administration contributed significantly to Governor Soludo’s landslide victory in the last election.
Aburime promised to sustain, strengthen, and further improve the relationship and partnership between his office, the state government, and the Correspondents’ Chapel.
