Insecurity: Nigeria is on a Downward Slide with Negative Development Indices…Editors
…Warns Country May Be Torn to Sheds …Calls for Concerted Efforts Between Govt, Media, Security Agencies to End Insecurity …Wants Govt, Security Officials to Appreciate Media’s Role...
…Warns Country May Be Torn to Sheds
…Calls for Concerted Efforts Between Govt, Media, Security Agencies to End Insecurity
…Wants Govt, Security Officials to Appreciate Media’s Role in Building Democracy, Refrain from Abridging it
…Asks Govt to Commit Huge Resources to Education, Healthcare, Tackle Rising Prices of Foodstuffs, Social Services
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has stridently warned that the country is on a downward slide, posting negative development indices in several areas as raging insecurity threatens to tear it to shreds.
Rising from its 17th Annual Editors Conference (ANEC), which ended in Abuja at the weekend, the Guild called for concerted efforts between government, the media and security agencies to urgently end the spate of insecurity that has disrupted social and economic life in the world’s most populous Black country.
Attended by 350 editors, security chiefs and other stakeholders, the conference which fingered many years of leadership failure for the raging insecurity, urge government to commit huge resources to education and healthcare while asking it to tackle the rising cost of food and social services.
Frowning at increasing cases of harassment of media professionals and the move to sponsor laws to hamstring the media, the Guild in its communique signed by the President, Mr Mustapha Isah and General Secretary, Mr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, wants government and security officials to appreciate the critical role of the media in building Nigeria’s democracy and implore it to do nothing to put it in chains.
Noting that Editors and other journalists seem to have taken sides in the affray, it advocated for a newsroom composed of persons of diverse ethnic, regional and religious persuasions to stem this, while calling for checking of fake news and the sanitisation of the media against unprofessional and unethical acts.
It also demanded that Editors and Journalists ensure that they are conflict sensitive and refrain from publishing stories that are capable of inflaming ethnic, regional and religious passion
Decrying the increasing agitations for self determination particularly in the Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth regions of the country as inimical to its unity, the Guild called on government to ensure that it addresses the issues that have stoked the agitations by ensuring that its policies and actions are designed to enthrone fairness, equity and justice to the different groups and reflect the multi ethnic, religious and cultural make up of the country.
The communique read in parts:
* It was observed that Nigeria, the world’s most populous Black nation is in the throes of raging insecurity crisis that threatens the survival of its people and existence.
* That the prevalent insecurity problem which has seen terrorists, bandits, armed herdsmen and other criminal elements holding the nation to ransome and virtually threatening its survival and development, has the potential of tearing the country to shreds.
* That the problem of insecurity confronting the country is taking a huge toll on societal life and posting negative development indices in several areas.
* That the insecurity crises stem from leadership failure that has bedeviled the country for many years
* That Editors and Media Professionals seem to have taken sides in the raging crises
* That Journalists and Security Agents who are first line responders to every flash points appear locked in mutual suspicion
* That Journalists and Media Professionals are often times impaired and harassed by security agents from carrying out their professional responsibilities
* That Peace and Development which is germane to further advancement of Nigeria cannot thrive in times of crises
* That Government has a responsibility to defend, protect and provide for its citizens
* That agitations for self determination which is raging in the Southeast, Southwest and the Southsouth regions do not augur well for the unity of the country.
* That Editors should endeavour to prepare for life after their career and ensure that they are not beclouded by the pressure of deadlines.
It therefore resolves as follows:
* The Conference called for an end to raging insecurity so that citizens can conduct their normal lives in an atmosphere of peace and concord.
* It was resolved that there’s need for healthy and harmonious collaboration between the media and the security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
* There’s a need for security agents to appreciate the role of Journalists and media professionals and refrain from anything that will abridge it.
* That Editors and Journalists should ensure that they are conflict sensitive and ensure they do not publish stories that are capable of inflaming ethnic, regional and religious passion
* That there’s urgent need to tackle the monster of fake news and sanitize the media against unprofessional and unethical behavior.
* That government should support the survival of the media as part of the task of building our democracy and avoid any acts that will put the media in chains.
* That government needs to live up to its responsibility of protecting and making life bearable for its citizens
* That there’s a need for concerted efforts between government, security agencies and the citizens to end insecurity
* That government needs to confront issues that have given rise to the demands of the different self determination groups and endeavour to deal with the different sections of the country on the basis of fairness, equity and justice.
* There’s need for government to ensure that it’s policies and actions are sensitive to the multi favarious ethnic and religious make up of the country.
* That government needs to commit more resources to Education, Healthcare and tackle the rising costs of food and other social services.
* There’s a need for technical partnership between NGE and NIRSAL to work out how Editors can access capital for agricultural business.
The Conference which had four sessions had the following presentations.
Keynote Remarks by Publisher, Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, “The Editor in a time of crisis” by Editor in Chief and Senior Vice Chairman, Leadership Media Group, Mr Azu Ishiekwene and “Accessing Capital for Alternative Career Development of Editors” by Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed, MD/CEO, NIRSAL.
The conference with its theme, “Media In Times of Crises: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Concensus” also featured presentations on tackling insecurity from Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Hajia Hannatu Dalhat,special adviser on Inter Governmental Affairs to Kaduna State Governor and Prince Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, deputy chief of staff to the Osun State Governor.
Other highlights of the Conference was the unveiling of the book chronicling 60 years of the Nigerian Guild of Editors titled, “Uneven Steps: The Story Of The Nigerian Guild of Editors” authored by Mr Lanre Idowu. The book was reviewed by Mr James Akpandem, a fellow of the Guild and was launched by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu.
Chaired by Veteran Journalist, Mr Ray Ekpu with President, Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria (NPAN), Malam Kabiru Yusuf, publisher, Daily Trust Newspapers and Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kolo Kyari as special guests, the two day conference was also attended by Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai (represented by the Special Adviser on Inter Governmental Matters, Hajia Hannatu Dalhat), Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola (represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo) and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba who was represented by Commissioner Frank Mba, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO.
Others who also graced the event were the Director General, Department of Security Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi (represented by its Spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya), Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar (represented by Director, NIA, Mr Emma Engon Anzaku), Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System For Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr Aliyu A. Abdulhameed
and Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta.
It was rounded up with a 60th Anniversary Dinner which featured the induction of 8 new fellows and 13 new members.
