COMMUNIQUE OF THE 14TH ALL NIGERIA EDITORS CONFERENCE HELD AT EVENT CENTRE, ASABA, DELTA STATE
Ahead of the 2019 General
Elections, Editors in Nigeria gathered in Delta State for five days, October 10
to 14, to deliberate on the theme "Credible Elections, Sustainable
Democracy and the Nigerian media. It was a high profile gathering, which had
the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in
attendance. The Vice President graciously declared the conference open.
At the end of the conference,
editors:
1. Commended the 91 political
parties in the country for the maturity displayed during the party primaries of
most of them but frowned at the allegations of vote buying which the editors
observed was a subtle but worrisome way of institutionalising corruption.
2. Editors decried the level
of insecurity in the country stressing that the nation deserves more than
rhetoric and political slogans on issues of citizens’ welfare.
3. Editors commended the
government and good people of Delta State for the rapid growth in
infrastructure across the state as well as human capacity development.
4. The conference observed that
elections in Nigeria are not built on truth and therefore urged the umpire, the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain independent in its
practice by allowing citizens’ votes to count; as such is cardinal to
sustaining democracy.
5. Editors expressed the need for
Nigerian journalists to intensify efforts that will deepen democracy through
sustained investigative, balance and analytical reportage.
6. The conference challenged media
practitioners to join in the mobilisation of Nigerians through unbiased reports
to take collective responsibility in choosing leaders for the nation in the
next general elections.
The Guild observed that the role of
traditional media is being threatened with the emergence of the social media
where balanced reporting, truth and accuracy are gradually and consistently
being relegated. Editors at the end of deliberations agreed to defend the truth
through professional practice.
7. Editors urged the publishers and
chief executives of media establishments to play down on the commoditisation of
information to enhance objectivity.
8. Editors called on
politicians and security agencies not to intimidate electorates, but allow them
to freely make their choices for democracy to thrive in Nigeria.
9. Politicians were advised
to do away with the culture of winning at all cost and by all means in the
forth-coming elections so as to avert electoral violence.
The Guild expressed its appreciation for the presence of the Vice
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at this year's conference and thanked the host,
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the support given to the Guild for a successful
conference.
Funke
Egbemode
Victoria Ibanga
President
General Secretary
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