By Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday outlined areas of priorities for the new leadership of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
Atiku, Lawan and Tinubu, in separate congratulatory messages to the new leadership, urged them to foster national unity, promote professional standards and ethics as well as joined in the crusade to combat fake news.
The NGE had on Monday night re-elected Mr. Mustapha Isa as president to oversee the affairs of the guild for the next two years. Also, the Editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, and the Nation’s Capital Editor of the newspaper, Mr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, joined the NGE leadership as vice president (West) and general secretary respectively.
Isa had trounced the outgoing Secretary, Victoria Ibanga, by securing 176 votes against his main challenger’s 54 votes.
Adebiyi defeated the outgoing Social/Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, by polling 132 votes against his challenger’s 80 votes.
Announcing the results of the keenly contested elections, the Chairman of the Screening and Election Committee, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, had said Mr. Ali M. Ali, was returned unopposed as the deputy president, while Kila Habibu Nuhu, was also elected unopposed as vice president (North).
The final results also showed that Samuel Egbala was elected vice president (East) after he secured 132 votes against a distant runner up, Mr. Sheddy Ozoene, who polled 88 votes.
Atiku, in his statement, advised the new officers to be a strong voice for good governance and the rule of law.
He urged the new guild leaders to “demonstrate courage by speaking out on behalf of the ordinary Nigerians who have no voice in the face of excruciating challenges of existence.”
He added: “The media is the watchdog of society and therefore they have a great responsibility for holding leaders accountable in order to promote good governance and the rule of law.”
He also advised the new NGE leaders to show courage in the demonstration of their responsibilities as watchdogs of society.
“The press is indispensable to a free, democratic society. So, you are the voice of the people. Your role is not that of cheerleaders, but of holding government accountable for the good of democracy,” he stated.
Atiku called on journalists to emphasise things that unite the people rather than those that divide them, adding that they should respect and reflect all shades of opinions in the country instead of suppressing certain points of view.
Also, Lawan, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, praised the NGE for the success of its biennial convention in Kano and the peaceful conduct of the elections.
He said: “The peaceful and orderly manner of the elections are a good example of how professional bodies should conduct their affairs. You therefore deserve plaudits for living up to the high expectations that society has of you as leaders of the fourth estate of the realm.
“In that light, I enjoin you to always consider the higher national interest of unity, peace, justice and progress as you discharge your critical role of gate keeping in your various media organisations.
“The Nigerian media have come a long way, therefore the editors cannot afford to fail in their responsibilities to the nation in this critical period of our national development.”
On his part, Tinubu, in a statement in Lagos by his Media Office, said the executive committee had a responsibility to ensure that editors perform their work according to the best standards of the profession.
He stated editors and the press are essential to the wellbeing of a democratic and open society, and thus must do well for democracy to be sustained and grow.
“I earnestly congratulate the newly-elected executive committee of the Nigeria Guild of Editors at their recent convention in Kano.
“I particularly commend the President of the guild, Mallam Mustapha Isah, who was reelected as president at the convention. His re-election is a testament to and affirmation of the trust and confidence reposed in his leadership by his colleagues.
“I charge Mallam Isa and his executive committee to do more for the union and the country in this new tenure.
“As the pacesetting body for all editors, and, by extension, as guardians of journalistic freedom and quality, this executive committee must ensure that editors and journalists live and work by the creed of their profession.
“The committee must ensure journalists perform with utmost maturity and responsibility for which they are aptly called the fourth estate of the realm.
“It’s only by so doing will they publish true and objective news and issue meaningful commentary while beating back the menaces of fake news, hate speech and biased reporting.
“Let us do more to improve the critical organisations and institutions of our country, particularly at this time.”
