Rancour-free election: Tinubu applauds Nigerian editors for upholding ‘democratic culture’
….Congratulates Anaba for emerging NGE President
….Says Govt excesses must be reported
By Sodiq Adelakun
President Bola Tinubu has applauded the Nigerian Guild of Editors ( NGE) for upholding Democratic culture that welcomed on board Mr. Eze Anaba, who is also the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, and other newly elected officials of the guild.
Tinubu described the just concluded Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) as an epochal milestone in the evolution of journalism profession in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Special duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, stating that the election of new officers of the Guild to guide the affairs of the organisation for the next two years was successful and rancour-free despite the intensity of the contest for the various positions.
Recall that Anaba was elected at the 2023 National Biennial Convention of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), held in Owerri, Imo State.
He succeeded Mustapha Isah of the Silverbird Group, whose tenure just ended. Anaba polled 250 votes to defeat his only opponent, Bolaji Adebiyi, formerly of This day Newspapers, who scored 81 votes.
Anaba was popularly elected President of the Guild after polling 250 votes to defeat his rival, Bolaji Adebiyi who garnered 81 votes.
Over 300 editors were in Owerri for the Guild’s biennial convention, which was declared open by Governor Uzodimma.
He succeeds Mustapha Isah, with those returned unopposed including Husseina Bangshika as Deputy President; Steve Nwosu as Treasurer; Kabir Alabi Garba (Vice President West); Gabriel Akinadewo Folajimi (Assistant Secretary); Umoru Ibrahim (Vice President North), Muhammad Sanusi; and Paulyn Owhievbie Ugbodaga (both Standing Committee North).
Messrs Akinreti Qasim (General Secretary position); and Ademola Adegbamigbe (Standing Committee) were disqualified for improper documentation.
However, Alake, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), congratulated the newly elected president of the guild, Mr. Eze Anaba, who is also the Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, wishing him and other newly elected officials of the guild a most fulfilling and productive tenure in office.
On the backdrop of its peaceful and rancour-free elections, the NGE has sent a resounding message to the larger Nigerian polity that elections for desired offices can be intensely competed for without degenerating into bitterness, acrimony and needless malice.
In this regard, the President applauded those who lost out in the elections at various levels such as Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi of ThisDay newspaper for accepting the outcome and pledging support for the winners.
Govt excesses must be reported —Tinubu
Also, Tinubu encouraged the journalists to place the profession in prime position to continually fulfil its constitutional obligation of serving as a watchdog for the people by checking the excesses of government.
The statement reads, “The last biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) was an epochal milestone in the evolution of the journalism profession in Nigeria. An event that witnessed the election of new officers of the Guild to guide the affairs of the organisation for the next two years, it is most gratifying that the outcome was successful and rancour-free despite the intensity of the contest for the various positions competed for.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, I congratulate the newly elected President of the Guild, Mr. Eze Anaba, Editor of the Vanguard newspaper, and wish him and other newly elected officials of the guild a most fulfilling and productive tenure in office.
“By its peaceful and rancour-free conduct of elections to elect its new officers, the NGE has sent a resounding message to the larger Nigerian polity that elections for desired offices can be intensely competed for without degenerating into bitterness, acrimony, and needless malice.”
In this regard, the President commends those who lost out in the elections at various levels, such as Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi of ThisDay newspaper, for accepting the outcome and pledging support for the winners. This is a light that the NGE is showing that the rest of us may find the way to a mature, tolerant, stable, and sustainable democratic culture.
“It is of the utmost importance that the various unions in the newspaper industry, such as the NGE, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), imbibe the ethos of internal democracy in support of professional integrity for the benefit of good governance, stability, and sustainable development in Nigeria. In this regard, the NGE has made a strong statement for the Nigerian media as a worthy exemplar. But then, elections are not held within the unions in our profession just for the sake of holding elections to appoint new officers of associational offices. Rather, the larger picture is to ensure at all times that we place the profession in prime position to continually fulfil its constitutional obligation of serving as a watchdog of the people in checking the excesses of government and promoting the greatest good of the greatest number of our people.”
Meanwhile, outgoing President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, has dwelled on the key role of the media in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
Isah spoke at the just concluded National Biennial Convention of the Guild in Owerri, the Imo State capital in Eastern Nigeria, where the Editor of Vanguard newspaper, Eze Anaba, was elected the new President of the editors’ body.
For the immediate past President of the Guild, the crucial role of the media is to hold elected public officials at all levels to account for their campaign promises, and to ensure good governance in Nigeria.
He has also challenged the media to innovate and adopt new survival strategies to earn more money from different sources.
The theme of the convention was “Post-2023 Elections: Promoting Professionalism for Enhancement of Democracy and Good Governance.”
