News: NGE urges politicians to observe democratic ideals

Worried by some untoward developments in the polity, the Nigerian Guild of Editors on Sunday urged political leaders to conduct themselves in a manner that would engender the highest democratic ideals.


In a communiqué at the end of its Standing Committee meeting on Friday in Lagos, the guild expressed concern on the recent conduct of some political leaders, saying it could derail the country’s democracy.

“We note with dismay the recent conduct of some political leaders, which has the tendency to derail the country’s hard-earned democracy.

“We urge political leaders to conduct themselves in a manner that will engender the highest democratic ideals,’’ the guild said.

The communiqué, which was signed by NGE President, Femi Adesina, and its Secretary, Isaac Ighure

On the ongoing industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the editors urged all parties involved to return to the negotiation table.

The statement added:“They should return to the negotiation table to resolve all outstanding issues in the interest of the students, who are future leaders of the nation.’’

The NGE also noted the efforts by certain groups to revive some provisions of the Nigerian Press Council, which a competent court of law had voided.

It urged that the judgment of the court on the matter should be respected by all concerned, saying “such efforts may be tantamount to an attempt to gag the media.’’

The NGE recalled that the Federal Government had on May 4, on the World Press Freedom Day, withdrawn a court case against two journalists of the Leadership Newspapers in Abuja.

“The guild notes with concern the recent re-arraignment of the two journalists and is of the position that the considerations that made the Federal Government to withdraw the case in the first instance should subsist,’’ it said.

It also expressed worry that the Nigerian media were operating under difficult conditions, as most of their inputs were imported.

The editors, therefore, appealed to the government to waive import duties on all news media inputs, especially newsprint and broadcast equipment.