When 2015 election, insurgency, kidnapping dominated editors conference

Speaking at the opening session of the conference on the theme, “Credible Election and Good Governance: Role of the Editor,” a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba,  set the ball rolling when he stated that the forthcoming general elections would be the most crucial that the nation would witness given the tension it […]

Speaking at the opening session of the conference on the theme, “Credible Election and Good Governance: Role of the Editor,” a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba,  set the ball rolling when he stated that the forthcoming general elections would be the most crucial that the nation would witness given the tension it has generated. Osoba opined that unless Nigerians wanted to deceive themselves, the polity was tensed ahead of the election. He observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is however giving the nation a new hope that a free, fair and credible election could be achieved given how it conducted recent elections in the country.
He likened the election to the controversies that greeted the just concluded national conference, when some Nigerians feared it might throw the country into another chaos but ended without any rancour. Osoba said the coming election would go the way of the just concluded conference, where the nation emerged more united. “When we commenced the confab and it generated heated debates, many feared that it would lead to division of the country but it went well and we are more united as a nation having discussed our bedeviling issues,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the theme of this year’s conference was carefully chosen as the nation planned for yet another general elections.
He said in 2015, the Guild wanted nothing less than free, fair and credible polls saying that  “We want elections that are not only free, but also seen to be free. Elections that are not only fair but also applauded as fair.  And elections that are not only credible, but which even the blind would see  as credible’’.
In his keynote address, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab said, the Nigerian editor has a great role to play in the coming elections given their vital role of gate keeping what gets to the general public. He noted that editors must be very liberal and objective for the sustenance of democracy. He stated that the press has been at the vanguard of promoting freedom of expression for the oppressed even during the military era, as such they should ensure they safeguard what they fought for.
 A communiqué which was issued at the end of the conference summarized all the numerous papers and discussions that were held for three days. The communiqué signed by the Guild’s President, Femi Adeshina, observed that the high level of insecurity, insurgency and kidnapping across the country created and atmosphere of fear and apprehension and might not guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2015. However, to overcome this challenge and to strengthen the nation’s democracy and instill good governance, the current state of insecurity must be addressed with a view to creating conducive environment for development. It insisted that  editors have a great role to play in promoting national discourse towards strengthening national unity, peace, harmony as well as political, social, economic growth and prosperity.
  “The Nigerian editors should continue to promote the nation’s fledgling democracy and help in enthroning good governance in our country. Editors should continue to promote free and fair elections, which are key to the promotion and sustenance of democratic culture in the society through vigorous dissemination of information to the citizens’’ it said.
To achieve this, the conference observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be adequately funded.  “To enable the commission conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2015 and beyond, just as in order to ensure sustenance of good governance, the media must set a generally acceptable performance index to gauge the performance of governments at all levels in the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure to the citizens”, the Guild maintained.
 It also urged members of the profession to adhere to the ethics of journalism in the discharge of their responsibilities, while advocating for a code of conduct for the media in covering the 2015 general elections. The NGE called on politicians to shun hate speech, unguarded utterances, name calling, and other anti-social behaviors while using the media to canvass for public support.
 This year’s event was attended by the host governor, IbrahimShema of Katsina state,  Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman of Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab and the National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Malam Muhammed Garba.  The event was said to be the largest in the history of the NGE with Over 250 editors from both print and electronic media in attendance.